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MARCH 12, 2020
WILLISTON’S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1985
WILLISTONOBSERVER.COM
Schools reopen after virus concern Two-day closure follows potential staff member exposure to COVID-19 By Jason Starr Observer staff
Williston students returned to school Wednesday after an unprecedented two-day closure related to the COVID-19 coronavirus. Parents were stunned Monday morning to receive phone and email notifications from school administrators that both Williston grade schools would be closed for deep cleaning as a precaution against the virus. A staff member at Allen Brook School, they were told, had possibly been exposed to the virus during February break. Cha mplai n Valley School District administrators are ke e pi ng t he s t a f f member’s identit y and their role at Allen Brook confidential. They reported that the person stayed in an out-of-state hotel at the end of Febru–Tracy Dolan ary where multiple Vermont deputy positive COVID-19 health commissioner cases were confirmed among hotel guests. The person was in school last week, but has since self-quarantined after experiencing cold symptoms, school administrators said. There was a surreal atmosphere at the park behind Williston Central School mid-day Monday. Children played in the sun and unseasonable warmth, as parents tried to process how an international epidemic had so abruptly hit home. “I definitely felt my heart drop into my stomach,” Hillary Andrews said about getting the Monday morning school closure call, “and it’s been there ever since.” By Monday night, Champlain Valley School District administrators had sent out a second notification to parents advising that both Williston schools would remain closed Tuesday and reopen Wednesday. By that time, the janitorial staff would have completed a comprehensive
Parents raise thousands for janitorial staff ‘The work they are doing is critical’
‘(The public) will never know if a particular individual tests negative or positive.’
Observer photo by Jason Starr
It was an unexpected day off Monday for Williston Central School students. Many played in the park behind the school on what was an unseasonably warm day.
cleaning of both buildings using hospital-grade disinfectants. Neither school administrators nor Vermont Department of Health officials would comment on whether the Allen Brook employee has been or would be tested for the COVID-19 virus. According to the Department of Health, as of Tuesday evening, there was one confirmed case of the virus in Vermont — a person in Bennington. For the Allen Brook staff member to be tested,
a recommendation would have to be made from their doctor, said Deputy Health Commissioner Tracy Dolan. “(The public) will never know if a particular individual tests negative or positive,” she said. Bonnie Birdsall, the school district’s director of communications, said that multiple parents questioned the district about the Allen Brook staff member’s role in the school and how much see SCHOOLS page 18
When schools in Williston were closed Monday morning due to concerns over a staff member’s exposure to the COVID-19 coronavirus, the janitorial staff was marshaled into extra duty. Donning special protective gear and armed with hospital-grade disinfectants, the staff embarked on a two-day, ceiling-to-f loor deep clean of Allen Brook and Williston Central schools. Parents, while processing the possibility that their children may have been exposed to the virus, endeavored to make a positive impact out of an unsettling situation. There are about 600 people who communicate with each other on a Facebook group called “Williston Parents” that was launched in 2014. Typical posts relate to school events, summer camp recommendations, class schedules and extra-curricular activities. On Monday night, parent Brooke Thomas f loated the idea of showing extra support to the janitorial staff for responding to the extraordinary situation at the schools. After receiving positive feedback from fellow parents, she launched a fundraising page. As of Wednesday morning, 212 people had donated and about $6,500 had been raised. “The entire community is putting themselves in the see PARENTS page 18