Gov. Scott says reopening is going well

MONTPELIER — It’s been a week since Vermont lifted all COVID-19 restrictions — and the skies didn’t fall. On the contrary, as Gov. Phil Scott emphasized in Tuesday’s press conference, new case numbers continue to decrease throughout the state, Vermonters continue to get vaccinated and things just might be looking up.COVID-19 cases fell under 5,000 in New England this week, the lowest since the beginning of the pandemic, despite all six states having fully reopened. Vermont saw only 38 new cases and has only … (read more)

Vermont is on the verge of reopening

MONTPELIER — For nearly 15 months, Gov. Phil Scott has led Vermont through the COVID-19 crisis, relying on immense executive powers granted through the declaration of a state of emergency.Since March 13, 2020, Vermont’s emergency status has served as a ve … (read more)

Scott sets roadmap to fully reopen Vermont

VERMONT — “We have roughly 90 to go, 90 days to stay united so we can get back to normal,” Gov. Phil Scott said at his Tuesday, April 6 press conference. After July 4, Scott said he anticipates the state will only issue guidance — recommendations rather t … (read more)

College decides to forgo final phase of reopening

MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury College officials had hoped the campus community could transition to the third and final phase of the fall reopening plan this month, but that is not going to happen. “Given current conditions and state of Vermont limits on gatheri … (read more)

K-6 will soon go full-time in ANWSD

VERGENNES — Addison Northwest School District’s two elementary schools next week will take the first steps in what will be — if all continues to go well — a three-week phase-in to return all ANWSD pupils from kindergarten to grade 6 back to fulltime, in-s … (read more)

ACSD to return its youngest kids to full in-person learning

MIDDLEBURY — The Addison Central School District announced on Friday that it would move from its hybrid model to full in-person learning, five days a week, for students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade next month. Pre-K through second grade will ma … (read more)

Middlebury’s downtown reopens

MIDDLEBURY — More than four years of planning, dozens of often contentious meetings, a 10-week burst of around-the-clock construction and $72 million in state and federal funding all came down to a seven-minute train ride on Friday, Sept. 18, that ceremon … (read more)

Schools receive OK to ramp up services

ADDISON COUNTY — Tuesday’s announcement by Secretary of Education Daniel French that Vermont schools would move on Saturday into Step 3 of their pandemic reopening will not necessarily mean immediate changes, but schools will have more options on the tabl … (read more)

Video: The ceremonial first train

On Friday morning, a ceremonial first train took the inaugural journey through the brand-new rail tunnel in Middlebury, marking the end of the 10-week shutdown of downtown. The Addison Independent’s digital editor Megan James covered the event live.   Aft … (read more)

COVID guide: Middlebury College’s reopening plan

Middlebury’s Return to Campus Guide can be found online here. MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury College welcomed students back to campus in late August will host residential students this fall as long as it is safe to do so. Upon their arrival students were immedia … (read more)

COVID guide: FAQs about the college reopening

MIDDLEBURY — It takes a lot of planning to reopen a college campus in the middle of a pandemic, and a lot of communication. Naturally, questions will arise. Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Middlebury College’s fall reopening strate … (read more)

Letter to the editor: Contradiction in ACSD school, childcare plans

I have five children in the Addison Central School District, my oldest at Mary Hogan, and the other four at Cornwall School. Our Superintendent, Peter Burrows, has caused a stir with our children’s schedule, so I would like to place a letter on the curren … (read more)

MAUSD maps out its back-to-school plan

BRISTOL — School starts next week in the Mount Abraham Unified School District, as elsewhere in Vermont, and by now students and families know it’s going to be different from anything anyone’s ever seen before. Then it will change, and change again. Which … (read more)

ANWSD makes contingencies for virus in its schools

VERGENNES — Vergennes-area school officials said they will rely on such factors as local COVID-19 infections rates, availability of staffing, and guidance from state officials as they decide in coming weeks when and whether to bring Addison Northwest Scho … (read more)

Boys & Girls Club ready to reopen

VERGENNES — After a summer of online programming, the Boys and Girls of Greater Vergennes is preparing to welcome its members back into its Armory Lane clubhouse. With COVID-19 safety precautions and guidelines in place, of course, according to outgoing i … (read more)

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