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Explore our coverage of government and politics.

What Vermont's 'Essential Persons' List Is For, And Who's On It

Department of Public Works worker closes a playground at an elementary school in Walpole, Mass., on Friday, Mar. 20 out of concern about the spread of the coronavirus.
Steven Senne
/
Associated Press
Department of Public Works worker closes a playground at an elementary school in Walpole, Mass., on Friday, Mar. 20 out of concern about the spread of the coronavirus. We're talking about Vermont's "essential persons" and emergency childcare.

Vermont schools and child care centers were ordered closed last week, but child care is being made available to "essential" workers, those deemed critical to keeping the state running. But how is the state determining who fits the definition of "essential"? 

Our guests are:

  • Michael Schirling, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety
  • Ken Schatz, commissioner of the Vermont Department for Children and Families
  • Aly Richards, CEO of Lets Grow Kids, a nonprofit child care advocacy organization working with the state to connect essential workers with emergency child care.
  • Vicky Senni, co-director of Turtle Island Children’s Center in Montpelier, an independent childcare center planning to reopen to provide emergency childcare.

Broadcast live on Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2020 from 12-1 p.m.; rebroadcast from 7-8 p.m.

Jane Lindholm is the host, executive producer and creator of But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids. In addition to her work on our international kids show, she produces special projects for Vermont Public. Until March 2021, she was host and editor of the award-winning Vermont Public program Vermont Edition.
Matt Smith worked for Vermont Public from 2017 to 2023 as managing editor and senior producer of Vermont Edition.
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