No decision so far on Windsor HS principal

Update: July 1

The Mount Ascutney School District’s board meeting ended Wednesday with the board taking no further action regarding Windsor High School Principal Tiffany Riley’s status.

After an executive session, the board issued the following public statement: “The board has not made any decision regarding Principal Riley’s status. As such, she remains on paid leave. We plan to meet with her next week to gather more information; after that, we will decide how best to proceed.”

Riley’s attorney, William Meub of Rutland, said neither he nor his client are at liberty to discuss the case until it has been resolved.

June 30

Embattled Windsor High School Principal Tiffany Riley, placed on administrative leave after she made comments on her personal Facebook page that were viewed as critical of Black Lives Matter, has filed suit against her employer. The civil action was filed in Windsor Superior Court on June 29, citing an unspecified cause of action or monetary damages.

The accused parties in the case include the Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union and the Mount Ascutney School District Board.

“We did not provide a case summary — the allegations set out the claims and there is no specified damage amount,” said Riley’s attorney, William Meub of Rutland.

Riley has been on administrative leave with pay after the Mt. Ascutney School Board voted to oust her from her position due to a pair of comments the board deemed showed ignorance and poor judgement.

The board is scheduled to meet in a teleconference session on Wednesday, July 1 to decide how to proceed with Riley in the absence of an approved and clearly defined anti-racism policy.

In March, Riley signed a new two-year contract before the issue of her public comments erupted, WSESU Superintendent David Baker said.

“She did sign a two-year contract. She has not been terminated. She is on paid leave as we work things out,” Baker said.

Meub, however, said, “We consider what they (the school board) did as termination.”

Read more in the July 9 issue of the Vermont Standard.

Plastic bag ban in effect July 1

Starting on July 1, businesses, including stores and food-service establishments, can no longer use single-use plastic bags. The ban applies to retail of any type, all restaurants and cafeterias of any type, farmers’ markets and food trucks, and food and shopping delivery services. Instead, businesses must use paper bags or shoppers can bring in their own bags, if the business is allowing them as many are not allowing them in stores due to the COVID-19 pandemic though the Vermont Department of Health has declared reusable bags as safe.

Exceptions to the plastic bag use are:

• Fruits, vegetables, nuts, coffee, grains, bakery goods, candy, greeting cards, or small hardware items.
• Frozen foods, meat, or fish.
• Flowers.
• Prescription medications.
• Laundry, dry cleaning.

The ban also includes expanded polystyrene (or Styrofoam) and plastic stirrer sticks and straws, with some exemptions:

• If a store purchased these single-use products before May 15, 2019, it has until July 1, 2021, to use up its inventory.
• For straws, customers may request one, and hospitals, nursing homes and other care facilities may continue to provide them.
• Styrofoam is still allowed for uncooked meat, fish, poultry and seafood, as well as for out-of-state products or for sale out of state.

Gov. Scott expands event and dining capacity

As state data and expanded testing and tracing capacity continue to support reopening, Governor Phil Scott announced on Friday that the state will raise occupancy limits for event venues, arts, culture and entertainment venues, as well as restaurants.

Beginning June 26, these venues can expand capacity for events and dining to 50 percent of approved occupancy size or one person per 100 square feet of customer facing space. This change will allow for indoor events of up to 75 people and outdoor organized events of up to 150.

“We know the virus is still among us, which is why we must keep some restrictions in place to avoid significant spread of COVID-19, but I also know how devastating these restrictions have been on all businesses and especially for the hospitality sector,” said Governor Scott. “We continue to work with our public health experts as well as representatives of the hospitality sector to find ways to further open dining, events and travel without reversing the positive gains we’ve made to slow spread of this virus.”

 This next step follows recent steps to ease quarantine restrictions for travelers and for Vermonters who may be returning from another state.

 “We are committed to working collaboratively with these critical sectors and will continue to provide support to Vermont’s tourism and hospitality economy in its recovery,” said Agency of Commerce and Community Development Secretary Lindsay Kurrle. “The summer season is essential to their viability long term. We are encouraged by these reopening steps and hope to continue to find creative solutions that can increase capacity limits while keeping public health at the forefront of Vermont’s reopening.”

Food scraps separation starts July 1

The time has arrived for everyone, businesses and residents alike, in Vermont to start separating their food scraps to help reduce greenhouse gasses and keep the food out of the landfills.

According to the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) website, one of the reasons for making the change is because food that is produced but not eaten contributes eight percent of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing food waste is one of the single most impactful actions for reducing the effects of climate change.

Recycling centers and transfer stations will accept the food scraps or Vermonters can recycle the material in a compost pile, which can be inexpensive and beneficial to your gardens and yards.

Schools to open in the fall

Vermont’s schools will open for in-person instruction this fall, state officials announced on Wednesday. Requirements will include students and staff answering a health questionnaire and doing temperature checks every day while the state prepares alternatives for remote learning if schools need to close.

“We’re learning more every day” about controlling the spread of the Covid-19 virus, said Vermont Gov. Phil Scott at his regular COVID-19 press conference. “We know more about this virus now and have the tools to help prevent the spread today that we didn’t have three months ago, which helps us prepare for this transition back to school.”

Getting students back to the normalcy of the classroom setting is vital, said Scott and Secretary of Education Dan French.

“It is vital to the well being of our students that we endeavor to reopen our school so we can address their social emotional and educational needs, while at the same time getting back to the normal routines and community activities that characterize our way of life in Vermont,” French said.

The Agency of Education will release guidance about school reopenings in coming days, which will include changes to school calendars and attendance policies, and education officials will be asking the Legislature for additional money to accommodate them.

$355M added to coronavirus recovery bill

On Wednesday, the Vermont House advanced an additional $300 million to the Coronavirus Health and Human Services Recovery bill. The passage of H.965 makes the total Health and Human Services Coronavirus Recovery package nearly $355 million to date.

House Speaker Mitzi Johnson (D-South Hero) said, “the demand at the Foodbank regional food distribution events over the last months has been astounding. We cannot ignore the kind of demand that causes Vermonters to line up in their cars in the middle of the night and the suppliers to run out of food. We must ensure Vermonters’ very basic needs are met in this unprecedented time, and that starts with ensuring that there is food available, especially to our most vulnerable. The $300 million package passed today includes an essential investment in food security by appropriating $18 million for the Vermont Foodbank, school meals, and senior meals.

“We recognize this is a shift from the Governor’s priorities in this package, but we cannot allow our neighbors to be hungry. We know that food insecurity already affected over 11 percent of Vermonters pre-pandemic4 and that 1 in 4 Vermonters rely on food shelves or meal services for assistance,” she continued. “The economic impact of the pandemic is being felt deeply by Vermonters and we must do our best to assist them in this time of great need.”

“This package also has nearly $13 million in assistance for childcare, with money for summer programs and after school, both of which are critical economic investments for Vermonters and their businesses as parents return to work,” added Human Services Committee Chair, Representative Ann Pugh (D-South Burlington). “Our already-fragile childcare system was severely impacted by the economic outcomes of COVID-19. This investment is on top of the $50 million allocated to child care providers by the state in March and April. In order to return to work, parents need access to care for their children. With the closure of so many camp programs, school programs, and the slowed re-opening of child care centers, this commitment to Vermont families is essential to getting our economy back on track.”

House Health Care Committee Chair, Representative Bill Lippert (D-Hinesburg) added, “COVID-19 exposed even more of the cracks in our fragile mental health system. Between necessary social distancing, economic insecurity, and the loss of the social fabric that keeps us mentally healthy, Vermonters are suffering. That is why the House included a million dollars in targeted funds to save lives through this trying time. This money will support suicide prevention and a 24-hour peer warm line. This investment can quite literally save lives by connecting Vermonters to help when they need it the most.”