If driver ed falters, Guv ready to take the wheel
Gov. Phil Scott will do “whatever it takes” to ensure teens get driver education, he said at his press conference Friday.
Gov. Phil Scott signs executive order setting September 8 as universal school opening date
“Schools should take this extra time to make sure systems are ready and effective, so we can deliver for our children, and build confidence in the public education system’s ability to be flexible and responsive,” said Governor Scott.
Two doctors share different criticisms of Vermont’s coronavirus response
As Vermont continues to experience few issues with COVID-19 during the summer months, some doctors are beginning to question the state’s continued commitment to lockdown strategies.
New Hampshire education commissioner doesn’t expect to need statewide remote instruction
Speaking before state legislators recently, Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut said it was unlikely remote instruction would resume on a statewide basis this fall, but some schools may need to incorporate it based on specific concerns.
US sees worst-ever contraction for second-quarter GDP
The United States gross domestic product (GDP) fell 32.9% in the second quarter of 2020, marking the largest decline the country has ever seen. The Department of Labor reported Thursday that over 1.43 million Americans filed initial claims for unemployment last week.
School opening postponed two weeks in Vermont, mask guidelines in place
Guidelines include social distancing, required wearing of masks for all students and adults inside school buildings, wearing masks outdoors when social distancing is not possible, and the daily taking of temperatures.
Are lockdowns necessary? What data from 10 countries show
The evidence suggests that full lockdowns, such as those implemented in Italy and Norway, are not as effective as the more targeted approaches taken in other countries, such as in South Korea and Iceland.
Scott defends continued restrictions despite low COVID death, hospitalization rates
Despite having some of the lowest hospitalization and death rates for COVID-19 in the nation, Vermont continues to maintain substantial restrictions on businesses and services, along with a new mandate to wear a mask in all public places starting Saturday.
Superintendent: Vermont schools won’t have staff to open by late August
Lack of staff will render many if not most Vermont school districts unable to open as scheduled by the last week of August, a Washington County school superintendent predicts. Teachers and staff are applying to opt out of in-person instruction, she said.
New mask mandate will spur retail activity, Gov. Scott predicts
Gov. Phil Scott doesn’t think the universal mask mandate he announced Friday will make Vermonters less willing to patronize businesses in-person. The opposite will be true, he predicted.
Are teachers unions accidentally creating school choice by their COVID-19 reactions?
As Laura Meckler and Hannah Natanson of The Washington Post observe, pandemic pods are “a 2020 version of the one-room schoolhouse, privately funded.”
Full lockdowns did not reduce coronavirus mortality rate, study finds
A study in The Lancet medical journal found that full lockdowns, border closures and high rates of coronavirus testing are not associated with a statistically significant reduction in the total number of critical cases or the virus’s overall mortality rate.