By Erin Petenko and Lola Duffort/VTDigger It isn’t Labor Day yet, but some back-to-school districts are already reporting back-to-school Covid-19 cases.  Four schools — Crossett Brook Middle School in Duxbury, Summit Street School in Essex Junction, Shoreham Elementary School and St. Albans Town Education Center — have announced Covid-19 cases among students or staff. A…

By Ethan Weinstein The Barstow School Board, home to students from Mendon and Chittenden, will discuss on Sept. 9 whether to limit students' funded high school choices to only three area public schools. The move comes in the wake of two court cases earlier this year, which ruled it unconstitutional for towns to prevent students…

By Katherine Lazarus BRANDON — Rutland Northeastern Supervisory Union and Greater Rutland County Supervisory Union students will wear masks indoors for at least the first 10 days of school while school officials calculate the percentage of students who are vaccinated to determine if the school body has reached an 80% state threshold that could potentially…

By Ethan Weinstein “I wish people would not refer to it as a luxury to have access to healthy food,“ said Gretchen Czaja, Windsor Central’s school nutrition program director. She has made it her mission to bring local, whole foods into WCUUSD’s schools. Slowly but surely, she has done just that. Almost 10 years ago,…

Back-to-school shopping sales have long been indicators that the summer vacation season is coming to a close. Students and their parents may visit area stores or browse online looking for items to make the coming school year a success. Those lists have looked similar for decades, but shopping for school supplies in the pandemic era…

By Ethan Weinstein KILLINGTON—After 28 years teaching at Killington Elementary, one wouldn’t blame Melissa Knipes for burnout. She teaches kindergarteners — 5-year-olds — an age when some still ask for help in the bathroom while others have graduated to chapter books. But Knipes knows no cynicism, no complacency. She radiates warmth. Even entering a third…

Staff report At the Windsor Central Supervisory Union (WCSU) board meeting on Aug. 16, the board mandated that WCSU adhere to the Agency of Education Covid-19 Advisory Memorandum, which requires mask wearing until 80% of eligible students are vaccinated. This means that all students and staff will be wearing masks at the start of school, according to…

This will be the fifth year Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum hosts its Lip Sync Battle fundraiser. The event has become a much anticipated community tradition, filling The Paramount Theatre and downtown Rutland with lots of fun, laughter and creativity. While Covid restrictions in 2020 threatened to cancel the event, Wonderfeet was able to transition to a…

By Curt Peterson The Killington Select Board met as planned on Aug. 24, but the get-together was quickly converted to a “non-meeting” in the words of Select Board member Jim Haff.  Haff, as a Killington representative on the Windsor Central Unified Union School District board, had attended a 2½-hour open meetings law training session on…

On Aug. 3, 2021, at 3:25 a.m., troopers from the State Police — Rutland Barracks were notified of a single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian on Route 7 in Clarendon. Through investigation it was determined that Howard Doane, 30, of Rutland, was operating Honda Accord, traveling south on Route 7 in the area of North Shrewsbury…

Conservation of 629-acres on both sides of the National Scenic Trail ensures natural character, recreational access and critical wildlife habitat The Conservation Fund, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), announced the protection of 629 acres surrounding the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT) in Killington. The property has been conveyed to NPS from The…

RUTLAND—The state police are continuing to investigate the fatal shooting by a Rutland City police officer that occurred Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 25, at a McDonald’s restaurant in the city. The officer is identified as Cpl. Christopher A. Rose, who has served with the Rutland City Police Dept. for more than five years. The deceased is…

By Curt Peterson School district administrators are normally under pressure as opening day roars toward them like a freight train. Picture General George Washington astride his white horse, circulating among shivering troops before the Battle of Trenton, discussing strategy, boosting morale, everything at stake. That kind of pressure. Add the reemergence of Covid in Vermont,…

Gov. Scott announced vaccine requirement for more state employees and expanded school surveillance testing By Ethan Weinstein The Governor did not issue new guidance or restrictions in his weekly Tuesday press conference even as schools deal with Covid cases in their first week since opening. Scott did, however, announce a vaccine mandate for state employees…

By Katy Savage With the 41st annual Quechee Balloon Festival coming up Labor Day weekend, many balloon pilots are remembering a lost colleague. Balloon pilot Brian Boland, 72, of Thetford, died July 15 after he fell out of his basket and became entangled underneath. Boland was well-known and beloved among the pilot community. He built…