More first-time students beginning school during the summer, as COVID-19 cases subside
In return, schools are facing another major issue
Updated: 9:24 AM EDT Jul 12, 2021
SUMMER SCHOOL IS IN FU LL SWING IN VERMONT. AND EARLY EDUCATION SCHOOLS IN PARTICULAR E AR SEEING A SPIKE IN ENROLLMENT NBC5’S LAUREN GRANA JOINS US LIVE IN FROM SOUTH BURLINGTON. LAUREN, EDUCATORS YOU SPOKE WITH SAY THEY’RE STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP. NOW THAT COVID GUIDELINES HAVE LIFTED. EARLY EDUCATION SCHOOLS, LIKE KID LOGIC, HAVE SEEN MORE FAMILIES BECOME COMFORTABLE SENDING THEIR CHILD TO SCHOOL THIS SUMMER. BUT NOW, SCHOOLS ARE FACING ANOTHER MAJOR ISSUE. 01;34;52;24– 01;34;57;06 <LISA ZENGILOWSKI, HEARTWORKS PRESCHOOLS :06 “THERE’S BEEN SO MANY MO RE FAMILIES THAN WE EXPECTED TO BE COMING FOR THE SUMMER PROGRAM”> SUMMER ENROLLMENT AT THE HEARTWORKS PRESCHOOL IN SHELBURNE HAS SEEN ENROLLMENT DOUBLTHE IS SUMMER COMPARED TO LAST SUMMER AND 2019. 01;35;01;13– 01;35;10;14 <LISA ZENGILOWSKI, HEARTWORKS PRESCHOOLS 9 :0 “THEY’RE FEELING MORE CONFIDENT AND SECURE FROM A COMBINATION OF ‘I’M TRUSTING THE SCHOOLS, M I’ TRUSTING COVID HAS NOW EASED UP IN VERMONT.”> OVER AT KID LOGIC IN SOUTH BURLINGTON – A SIMILAR PATTERN. 02;02;10;03– 02;02;15;14 <TESSA DEARBORN, SITE DIRECTOR, KID LOGIC :05 “WE FACE VY ERLITT LE CHALLENGES WHEN IT CAME TO ILLNESS AND I THIN THAT HELPED FAMILIES. BUT AS EARLY EDUCATORS SEE MORE STUDENTS… NAT: kids playing (if possible) STAFF ARE SUFFERING. 012;;409;21– 01;42;11;18 (cerov with b-roll of blocks/toys) <LISA ZENGILOWSKI, HEARTWORKS PRESCHOOLS :06 “WE’RE IN A CRISIS SHORTAGE> IT’S A PROBLEM NOT JUST VERMONT, BUT THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS DEALING WIT H. THE COVID-19 PANDEMI C, ONLY MADE THINGS WORSE. OVER AT KID LOGIC IN SOUTH BURLINGTON. THEY’RE TRYING TO BRID TGEHE GAP WITH OUTREACH TO COLLEGE STUDENTS. 01;52;51;23– 01;52;55;25 <CRYSTAL THOMPSON POLLARD, EXECUTIVE DIRCTOR, KID LOGIC LEARNING :04 “WHAT WE’VE REALLY DONE IS KIND OF JUST PUT IT O TUTHERE LIKE EVERY BUSINESS YOU KNOW?”> SUMMER CAMPS AND PROGRAMS ARE JUST THE START -S A ENROLLMENT AT KID LOGIC IS AT CAPACITY COME THIS FALL. 01;52;56;28– 01;53;05;17 <CRYSTAL THOMPSON POLLARD, EXECUTIVE DIRCTOR, KID LOGIC LEARNING :09 “RELY AL TALKING ABOUT WHAT WE’RE DOING, WHY IT’S IMPORTANT – THE VALUANE D BELIEFS THAT WE HAVE FOR PLAY AND EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE.”> FOR NOW, EDUCATORS ARE HANGING TIGHT. 01;52;;1292– 01;52;37;03 <CRYSTAL THOMPSON POLLARD, EXECUTIVE DIRCTOR, KID LOGIC LEARNING :08 “EDUCATORS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THIS FIELD GROWING AND CHANGING – WE’RE WORKING REALLY HARD ON THAT IN THE STATE.”> ON A FEDERAL LEVEL, SCHOOL EMERGENCY RELIEF
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More first-time students beginning school during the summer, as COVID-19 cases subside
In return, schools are facing another major issue
Updated: 9:24 AM EDT Jul 12, 2021
Early education schools in Vermont are seeing enrollment increase dramatically this summer, as COVID guidelines have been lifted and more families are becoming comfortable sending their kids to school.But as early educators see more students, staff are suffering from a major shortage.It’s a problem not just Vermont, but the whole country is dealing with. The COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse. “What we’ve really done is kind of just put it out there like every other business – really talking about what we’re doing, why it’s important and the value and beliefs that we have for play and early education and care,” said Crystal Thompson Pollard, the executive director of Kid Logic Learning. Summer camps and programs are just the start – as enrollment at many schools are at capacity come this fall.
Early education schools in Vermont are seeing enrollment increase dramatically this summer, as COVID guidelines have been lifted and more families are becoming comfortable sending their kids to school.
But as early educators see more students, staff are suffering from a major shortage.
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It’s a problem not just Vermont, but the whole country is dealing with. The COVID-19 pandemic only made things worse.
“What we’ve really done is kind of just put it out there like every other business – really talking about what we’re doing, why it’s important and the value and beliefs that we have for play and early education and care,” said Crystal Thompson Pollard, the executive director of Kid Logic Learning.
Summer camps and programs are just the start – as enrollment at many schools are at capacity come this fall.
