Grand Isle Supervisory Union to Prepare and Delivery Meals to Kids

By Michael Clark, Superintendent Grand Isle Supervisory Union

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members: 
Last night I shared that Governor Scott announced that statewide school dismissal will occur no later than Wednesday, March 18, 2020. GISU Schools would remain open on Monday and Tuesday; however, student attendance at school on Monday and Tuesday is a family decision. For these two days, the Grand Isle Supervisory Union attendance procedures will be waived, and no student will be penalized for not attending. We will continue with this plan and will be open for students on Tuesday, March 17, 2020, until the regular dismissal time. Please be aware, until further instruction from the Governor, Vermont Department of Health, and Agency of Education, all schools will be closed to the public until April 6, 2020. 


​Teachers and support staff will be at school on Wednesday, March 18, through Friday, March 20, and will be working on plans to provide work and support to students remotely until April 6th. Teachers are charged with providing students with work to maintain the skills they've acquired thus far this year in order to prevent regression. It is not the expectation that new learning occurs during this time. It is important that students feel some semblance of a routine at home. For parents and students, structuring a "school day" at home will be a challenge as it is a departure from their norm. In many cases, students who are at school on Tuesday will begin to receive this work. For students who are not at school, arrangements will be made to deliver the work to student's homes. Additionally, faculty, staff, and principals will be making plans to communicate regularly with students and families for the duration of the dismissal. 
We will be preparing bagged meals (breakfast and lunch) out of our production kitchens at the Alburgh, Grand Isle, and Folsom Schools, where our professional staff will prepare meals in a safe and sanitary environment. To exercise the recommended social distancing, we will provide meals to children 18 and under for free through delivery using a combination of our bus drivers and support staff to deliver the meals to homes. If you would like meals for your student delivered please contact the following: 
Alburgh - Wendy Savage 796-3573 ext 101 
Grand Isle, Isle La Motte, or North Hero - Joanne Tier 372-8866 
South Hero - Arianna Middlemiss 372-6600 
It must be stated that GISU schools are student-centered, relationship-based, educational communities. No amount of technology or remotely delivered content can replace what happens at our schools daily. Resorting to online and/or remote delivery of educational services is a suboptimal scenario. We will not be able to remotely recreate the vibrant learning communities ​of our schools. Despite the challenges ahead, I am confident that all of our teachers, support staff and administrators will work tirelessly to place student well-being and learning at the center of everything we do. We find ourselves in a rapidly changing, uncharted situation. 
We appreciate your flexibility. If you have questions or concerns please reach out anytime.

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