Dear future Vermont, I’m sorry. I apologize for where you are now, it was our fault — things got strange around 2022 to 2024 and went sideways on us. Maybe if more of us had been vocal things could have turned out differently. As you consider where you are now and how to move forward…

By Brooke Olsen-Farrell Editor’s note: Brooke Olsen-Farrell is the superintendent of the Slate Valley School District. I am proud to serve in a state that believes it is every child’s right to receive an excellent education, regardless of their background or zip code. So, it’s been unsettling to see some using Act 127, an act meant…

Dear Editor, I recently attended an open meeting at the Public Safety Building where the proposed new Woodstock Middle/High School was the main topic. Ben Ford began the meeting with an overview of the location on site and the cost. After the initial presentation, questions and concerns became the most talked about items. Concerns were…

Dear Editor, I am the current chair of the Mountain Views Supervisory Union (MVSU) School Board. I am also a Woodstock resident, a parent of three children who graduated from our schools, a grandparent of a PreK student at WES, and an educator who taught for 39 years in the school district. At the vote…

By Nicholas Boke This commentary isby Nicholas Boke of Chester, a freelance writer and international education consultant. It was published earlier this month in VTDigger. I left Vermont in 2004 mainly because I wanted to work overseas. But I also felt the need to get away from the Vermont bubble. It was such a safe…

During House discussion of H.850 last week, which removes the controversial 5% cap on the equalized homestead rates for education, the chair of the House Ways & Means Committee repeated the obvious: Spending increases generally cause tax increases. And that is the predicament that K-12 education budgets are in right now. If there were minor…

Valentine’s Day at the State House this year was surprisingly eventful and romantic. In addition to the usual round of cheer and chocolate in each committee, we celebrated the first wedding of a legislative colleague in many years. State Representative Mary-Katherine Stone married U.S. Air Force Captain Ryan Fischer on the State House steps in…

Staff report On Wednesday, Feb. 14, the Mountain View School District (MVSD) administration received information about a potential threat to the Woodstock middle and high school. After speaking with police, they determined that the campus would be closed until law enforcement and crisis intervention agencies determined the campus was safe. The school district administration and…

By Curt Peterson Ouch! Owners of a modest $250,000 assessed home in Hartland may face a $1,100 property education tax increase for FY2025. Homeowners are angry and distraught — some fear they can’t afford to stay in their homes. Many blame local school districts, assuming their budgets are bloated. They’re not the only ones. Legislators…

Rutland Regional Medical Center announced Feb. 15 that it has been recognized as a 2024 Outpatient Joint Replacement Excellence Award recipient by Healthgrades, the leading resource consumers use to find a hospital or doctor. This achievement along with their 5-Star in Outpatient Total Hip Replacement reflects the organization’s dedication to clinical excellence and distinguishes Rutland Regional…

Courtesy RRMC Members of the Women’s & Children’s Unit and Birthing Center at RRMC pictured (l-r): Megen Hasbrouck, RN; Amy Williams, RN; Justine Franko, RN, manager of WACU; Leah Romine, RN, director Women’s & Children’s Unit; Jody McIntosh, RN; Becky Allen, RN; Chloe Harris, Dr. Ananda Boyer; Dr. Sarah Decker, Medical Director, Rutland Women’s Healthcare. Blue Cross…

Q&A with Killington Town Manager Michael Ramsey Staff report Submitted Town Manager Michael Ramsey enjoys a day on the slopes. In advance of the upcoming Town Meeting Day vote, March 5, the Mountain Times caught up with Killington Town Manager Michael Ramsey to clarify some of the more nuanced articles voters will be asked to…

Courtesy Killington Resort Cheers to spring skiing! Girls toast to unforgettable moments at Killington, with the iconic Superstar ski trail in the background, adorned with bumped-up moguls. Killington Resort is roaring into spring with a jam-packed event series as the longest season in the East extends beyond the rest. “Long after other resorts have called…

Qualifies project as eligible for state aid, once reinstated as expected The state Agency of Education (AOE) has endorsed Mountain Views Supervisory Union’s (MVSU) plans for its new middle/high school construction project. This decision qualifies the project for construction aid upon the state’s reinstatement of the program. “The Capital Outlay Financing Formula (COFF) establishes the…

MVSU district budget, yield, rates, effect on taxes, questioned By Polly Mikula The difference between a projected statewide yield per student of $10,250 and $9,775, probably doesn’t cause alarm for most. But the effect on local taxes could be significant: to the tune of a 11% increase in the base equalized tax rate and a15%-30%…