education

Learn About Native Bees

by JillStahlTyler | Home & Garden

On Monday, March 13, at 7 PM at Brooks Memorial Library, the Brattleboro Garden Club will host a free presentation given by Aliza Fassler, a graduate researcher at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, on native bees.

Come to learn about where do bees go in winter; how to distinguish a bee from a wasp or a native bee from a honey bee and which native bee species might be in your yard.  In North America there are approximately 4,000 species of wild bees that are critical for pollinating plants in our forests, gardens and fields. Learn about the diversity of bee species in New England and how to help them in your yards and gardens.

Education Reimagined

by RDavis | Education

The challenges to re-opening the public educational system are rivaling the challenges of providing health care during the pandemic.

This country has a historical commitment to provide public education through grade 12. It has struggled with budget constraints and political pressure to provide the best education possible for students, but the pandemic has forced the system to the breaking point.

Some politicians want to open the public school system by September, but their plans lack detail and they will put a lot of people’s lives at risk. Despite the threats from one of the most ignorant and intellectually challenged presidents this country has ever seen, governors know that they will be able to move more carefully because ninety percent of their funding comes from local and state budgets. That provides a bit of a financial safety valve but little comfort for a safer future for this country’s students.

Masks for Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney & Vernon Schools

by Jen Batty | Education, Uncategorized

Masks are needed for schools in Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, Putney & Vernon

Cloth masks will be needed for students, teachers, school staff and bus drivers for the reopening of school in late August. 
Hundreds of masks are needed in all sizes, from kindergarten through adult. 
Can you sew masks for this need?
Can you donate tightly woven 100% cotton quilting fabric or ⅛-¼ in. woven elastic?
Can you make a monetary donation to help purchase needed materials?

Reparations of People Enslaved in Prisons and the Military

by Rikki Risatti | Op/Ed

Earlier this month I released a public statement addressed to People in government organizing slavery reparation movements’ legislation to recognize that People incarcerated and People employed in the military have both been and are currently treated as property denied both constitutional and life protections of freedoms, rights, and liberties. We can and will change such insanely brutal conditions with prison abolition and labor union empowerment. The newspapers have not published my letters and I have not been allowed access to participate at official reparations meetings which say no one is denied entry.

Governor Scott’s State of the State Address

by Not Signed In | State News

Mr. President, Madam Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, members of the General Assembly, honored guests and fellow Vermonters:

Today, I welcome the opening of the legislative session with the same optimism I had as a freshman senator from Washington County nearly two decades ago. 

I come before you to report on the state of the state, to reflect on the work we’ve done and to share a vision and priorities for our future. 

11/19 Vote – Voter Beware

by Not Signed In | Education

Question #2 & #3: Voter Beware!

If you think that voting yes on the proposed amendments on November 19th means voters would have a fair say in school closures… think again!

Read questions #2 and #3 carefully.  I like the idea of giving the voters a say.  Right now, the board would have authority to close classrooms or schools.  The voters have no say. But, if these amendments pass, the majority does not decide.

Helpful Information Regarding Special WSESD Vote

by Not Signed In | Education

Below is information that might be helpful to know for November 19th special elections.

Attached is a sample ballot for all four towns – Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford and Putney. All towns’ ballots are the same. Absentee ballots are currently available at the Town Clerk’s Office and may be requested until 5:00 pm on Monday, November 18th. Sample ballots can also be found on our website at www.brattleboro.org under Elections.

Brattleboro Early/Absentee Ballots Available For Special School Merger Election

by Not Signed In | Education

Early/absentee ballots for the Special School Merger Election to be held November 19, are now available in the Brattleboro, Town Clerk’s office.  Anyone wishing to vote prior to November 19 may apply for an early/absentee ballot until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 18.

Early/absentee ballots may be voted in person in the Clerk’s office, mailed to the voter by the Clerk’s office, picked up by the voter, or if a voter is in need can be delivered to the voter’s residence by two Justices of the Peace.  All voted ballots must be received by the Clerk before the polls close on election day in order to be counted.  For more information or to request an early/absentee ballot call 251-8157.

BUHS Turf Field Discussion

by Not Signed In | Education

On Wednesday, October 16th at Dummerston School at 6:00 p.m., the Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) School Board is scheduled to discuss the resurfacing of Brattleboro Union High School’s (BUHS) Natowich Field. The focus of the field portion of the meeting will be on BUHS’s proposal to resurface the field using artificial turf.

Windham School Board Fights Back on Act 46 School Merger

by Lise | West River Valley
Windham Elementary School, Windham, VT

Although most towns across the state voted — in some cases reluctantly — to accept the forced merger of their schools as mandated under Act 46, the town of Windham did not. The Windham School Board continues to fight the merger of their elementary school into the new West River Education District, which they see as unconstitutional seizure of town property and against the best interests of their students.

On May 11, the Windham School Board took the unusual step of writing to all its neighbors in the new merged district to ask that they vote No on the latest school merger articles up for vote. The other towns in the West River district are Newfane, Townshend, Brookline, and Jamaica — all have agreed to merge their schools and have approved the merged budget.

Update on Brattleboro Town School Board Budget, Act 46, Concerns About Delays

by Not Signed In | Education

Greetings, Brattleboro! My name is Jill Stahl Tyler, and while I am the chair of the Brattleboro Town School Board, I send this information out personally.  It’s a broad update on the status of our budget/Act 46/delays in moving forward.

Our Brattleboro Town School Board has always tried to “prepare for every eventuality” while going through almost four years of Act 46 discussion.  In the hopes that you will feel more informed about the process, I have gathered this information.  Feel free to share widely!

Vermont Jazz Center Presents: Emerging Artist Festival

by vtjazz | Entertainment

The Vermont Jazz Center is excited to present its first annual Emerging Artists Festival on Friday evening, November 2nd in downtown Brattleboro during Gallery Walk and all day Saturday, November 3rd at the Vermont Jazz Center. This event is in collaboration with area schools and colleges, the Boys and Girls Club, Strolling of the Heifers, BrattRock, Youth Services, Gallery Walk and the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance. The VJC’s goal is to use this annual Emerging Artists Festival to cultivate a greater interest and deeper knowledge of jazz amongst younger audiences, to connect with our region’s youth and ultimately boost their attendance throughout the year. As a participatory event, VJC’s Emerging Artist Festival will break down barriers to accessing the arts, especially for the region’s young people.

Ukulele-in-a-Day Workshops Return to Brattleboro!

by Ruthie | Music

UKULELE-in-a-DAY Workshop Returns to Brattleboro

Back by popular demand, Ukulele-in-a-Day, a 1-Day Quick-Start Workshop for Total Beginners, returns to the Brattleboro Music Center for two dates: Sat. Sept. 15 and Sat. Sept 22, from 10 am – 3 pm.

Gov. Scott Wants To Issue Tax Penalties on Brattleboro for Providing Quality Education

by Indivisible Brattleboro | Politics

The legislative session is wrapping up and the budget is still on the line. The threats coming out of Gov. Scott’s office are terrible.

-Gov. Scott has said all year that he wants to level funding and impose strict staff ratios at our public schools.
-Townships met and voted on their budgets through Vermont’s democratic process. In most cases, including in Brattleboro, they followed Scott’s budgetary directive.
-This wasn’t good enough for Gov. Scott. He is now threatening to FINE communities (Yes, fine. As in make them pay the state money through tax penalties.) for failing to meet his arbitrary staffing ratios.

Brattleboro Union High School Board Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING

The BUHS #6 Teacher Curriculum Committee will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, April 23 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.

The BUHS #6 Finance Committee will meet at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25 in the WSESU James E. Kane Conference Room, 53 Green Street.

NOTICE OF BOARD MEETING

The BUHS #6 Board of Directors will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 23, 2018 in the WRCC Cusick Conference Room.