Alison Novak

1 day ago | sevendaysvt.com | Alison Novak

click to enlarge When Essex Westford schools let out for the summer, the work doesn't stop for child nutrition director Scott Fay and his team. Just days later, they begin converting the kitchen at Essex High School into a de facto packaging facility.

2 days ago | sevendaysvt.com | Alison Novak

As Vermont students said goodbye to their classmates for the summer and teachers gathered for the school year's last faculty meetings, the legislature was also wrapping up its work. The Senate, then the House, voted on Monday to approve H.454, a sweeping piece of legislation that will transform the way schools are governed and funded in the coming years. Gov. Phil Scott has signaled he will sign it.

3 days ago | sevendaysvt.com | Alison Novak

click to enlarge This story will be updated. The Vermont Senate on Monday afternoon approved H.454, a sweeping education reform bill that would change the way state schools are governed and funded. Seven Democrats and 10 Republicans voted for the bill; 11 Democrats and one Republican voted against it. Senator Rob Plunkett (R-Franklin) was not in the chamber for the vote. It will now go to the House for a vote this evening.

4 days ago | sevendaysvt.com | Alison Novak

click to enlarge A sizable group of Vermont superintendents and school board members spent their weekends writing to lawmakers, urging them to vote "no" on a sweeping education reform bill that will come before the full legislature on Monday. H.454 aims to create fewer, larger school districts and a new system for funding schools in which the state, rather than local voters, decides how much money each district gets.

1 week ago | sevendaysvt.com | Alison Novak

click to enlarge On June 4, the Vermont state treasurer, the financial regulation commissioner and the deputy education secretary gathered in the same room — but not to talk policy. They'd come to Winooski High School to listen to students give their final presentations in a personal finance course.