By VDC staff
Students in the Winooski School District went home under unusual circumstances Wednesday after district officials responded to reports of threats from immigration enforcement agents, WPTZ News 5 reported Thursday October 16.
Superintendent Wilmer Chavarria said the district received the reports just before dismissal and decided to act immediately to protect families. Details of the threats were not shared, but Chavarria said they were considered credible.
“The decision was made that the reports were credible and that the harm, the potential harm, was also serious,” he said.
The district activated a city safety protocol for immigration-related incidents. Staff and volunteers fanned out across Winooski to help students get home safely—on foot, by car, and by bus.
“We had a lot of volunteers in the streets, down Main Street and Weaver Street, positioning themselves at different blocks to have an additional presence,” Chavarria said. “People were watching on corners, making sure kids were OK.”
The operation went smoothly, he said, but the emotional impact may last longer. “I’m worried that we’re going to be going through waves,” Chavarria said. “Every time that something happens in the community, people might question again whether it’s safe to send their children to school.”
Still, he said Wednesday’s events showed the strength of the Winooski community. “Teachers and staff came in force to make sure that we kept students safe,” he said.
Chavarria reassured families that schools remain safe and that plans are in place if similar situations arise. “We should not live under fear,” he said. “When things are not OK, we have protocols in place for that.”
No additional threats have been reported, and the district said it continues to monitor the situation. NBC5 requested comment from federal immigration agencies but has not received a response.