Education

“Seeds of Mussar” course offered

Congregation Beth El, 107 Adams Street, will offer the “Seeds of Mussar” course with Rabbi Joshua Boettiger starting Sunday, April 19, from 11 am to 1 pm, in the Paresky Sanctuary. This is a four-week, in-person/Zoom course. The first session is in person, followed by three weekly Zoom practices....

Gov. Phil Scott File photo

Governor lays out plan for sweeping education reform

Calls for larger districts, simpler taxes, funding changes MONTPELIER- Last month, Gov. Phil Scott released a sweeping education reform plan his administration is calling an “education transformation proposal.”
The governor’s proposal would significantly revamp the state...

Whitingham resident Emily Carris Duncan is running as a Democrat for the Windham-6 seat in the Vermont House of Representatives. Photo courtesy Christian Engel

Candidate ready to pitch in for the community

WHITINGHAM- Valley resident Emily Carris Duncan has stepped up as a candidate for the Windham-6 legislative seat recently vacated by Rep. Tristan Roberts.
At this early point in the 2024 election campaign, Carris Duncan appears to be a shoo-in for the position. As the only candidate to...

Zoie Saunders attended a Vermont Board of Education meeting at Twin Valley Middle High School last month. -Mike Eldred

Local senators split on education secretary vote: Sears, Campion in favor, Hashim, Harrison not

MONTPELIER- The Vermont Senate rejected the appointment of Zoie Saunders, Gov. Phil Scott’s pick to head the Agency of Education, in a 19 to 9 vote Tuesday morning.
The rejection of a nominee for a cabinet position is rare in Vermont. In his weekly press conference on Wednesday, Gov....

Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski addressed the press on Thursday, April 18, at a press conference about H.877, a bill relating to education, education finance, and property tax yields. Screenshot via Zoom

Bill sets education tax hike at 15%, calls for new study commission

“The time has come for the hardest decisions,” says House education chair
MONTPELIER - At a press conference on Thursday, April 18, members of the Vermont House of Representatives were joined by education leaders throughout the state to comment on H.877, a bill relating to...

A group of locals has been working on a museum-style exhibit about the Holocaust for the better part of a year. From left: Darrell English, Kathleen Banks Nutter, Susan Neuman, and James Dassatti. Photo by Lauren Harkawik

Amid rising tide of hate, a reminder of a horrific history

Local group puts together extensive program on Holocaust remembrance
WHITINGHAM - On Friday, May 12, and Saturday, May 13, the public will have an opportunity to learn about the Holocaust at an in-person exhibit unlike many others that have been displayed locally. The...

Property boom drives down CLA, drives up town reappraisals

DEERFIELD VALLEY- The Vermont Department of Taxes’ recent release of the 2022 equalization study indicating that the common level of appraisal in most Vermont towns will fall significantly has left many Vermonters dreading huge tax increases in 2023.
The equalization study, conducted by...

Sen. Bernie Sanders Photo: Joseph Sohm

Health care costs to be a top topic, says Sanders

WASHINGTON, DC- Sen. Bernie Sanders told Vermonters that he expects to be named chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, and laid out his priorities for the committee’s work in the next session.
Sanders met with constituents in a virtual Town Meeting Tuesday...

Burr and Burton Academy no longer offering driver education courses

By Amelia Nick
WARDSBORO- On Monday, the River Valleys Unified School District held their final board meeting before the start of the 2022-2023 school year. They briefly discussed a letter from Burr and Burton Academy, a transportation request, and finalized staffing approvals for the...

Early dismissal on Wednesdays to start next year

DEERFIELD VALLEY- Last week many parents of students attending Windham Southwest Supervisory Union schools were surprised by an email or robocall announcing a change in the weekly school calendar. Starting the first week of school next year, student will be released from school at 12:45 pm every...