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Welcome to Otter Valley

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March 18 2020

Dear Parents and Guardians:

On March 15, Governor Scott signed orders for school districts to continue operations under very different remote conditions from “ end of day of March 17 through April 6, 2020,” with the possibility of extension. Specifically he has mandated that we:

● Provide food for children;

● Collaborate with the State to provide childcare options for healthcare workers and others essential to the response;

● Develop systems for ensuring maintenance of education during the initial dismissal; and a continuing education plan if schools are dismissed for an extended period.

Rutland Northeast schools have been working around the clock to meet this mandate. I realize this is a high anxiety time for families and the information keeps changing. Thank you for your patience and support as we strive to build a new education system under these conditions in a matter of days. Here is our status as of today.

● Our schools have been closed since March 14 to outside visitors.

● Schools have been closed to students since the morning of March 17.

● This week, staff are working on developing two-week learning units for each child to be delivered with food on Monday, March 23.

● We have also created an education learning resources website with resources for parents to access. It can be found at www.rnesu.org.

● Lunch/Breakfast bags will be delivered/picked up once per day to families with children under the age of 18 who have signed up using our survey tool. If you did not sign up and wish to have food available to your child(ren), please call one of the schools and the administrative assistant can take your information. Food service delivery will begin tomorrow, March 19.

● If you would like to change your food delivery/pick up choice at any time during this period, feel free to contact the school and we will be happy to make the adjustment that best fits your needs.

If the emergency orders continue beyond April 6, the current expiration date, we are preparing to provide remote learning to students with weekly lessons and remote support from our
teachers. We have also identified from a survey last week which families might need a computer device loaned for this period and are preparing them to go out as well.

In order to have as many staff work remotely as possible, please know that we are putting our phone system into night mode by the end of the week. We will be checking voice mails regularly as staff works from home and will reply to your messages during regular working hours.

Please take care, stay inside, wash your hands often and help us fight this virus!

Be well

Jeanne Collins, Superintendent, RNESU

Important Information about Technology:

Beginning Monday, March 23rd we will be making Chromebooks and chargers available for pick up by students for use in upcoming remote learning.

Please complete the request form below only under the following circumstances:

You have Internet (wireless) available at the student's home or place of use for the Chromebook.
You do not have another computer that the student can use for remote learning.
Chromebook Sign Out Form: https://forms.gle/e8b3UV1gwU1fjsBJ9

Pickups:
Pickups will be available at the Otter Valley Union High School lobby during the week of March 23rd from 9 AM to 11 PM, and again from 1 PM to 3 PM. A maximum of one Chromebook per two students can be provided.
You will need to provide identification when picking up the Chromebook.
Student Support:

Limited IT Support is available for students by using the link below. Use the student's RNESU email address in the email field when completing the support form.

http://www.rnesu.org/district_information/departments/technology

Possible Wireless Access Option:
Currently, all Xfinity WiFi Public Hotspots have been made open to everyone on the “xfinitywifi” SSID. Non-Xfinity subscribers need to accept the Terms and Conditions to access the network, and repeat when requested to continue to receive free unlimited access. RNESU cannot provide support for these connections.
Please refer to the link below for details, and available public hotspots by zip code.
http://wifi.xfinity.com/
Alexis O. Blake Director of Technology Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union