Fundraising ramps up to support Harwood performing arts
Multiple fundraising efforts are underway to support Harwood Union High School’s theater programming, with ways for the community to support both the spring musical – “Anything Goes,” set for April 3-5 – and performances on the Harwood stage for years to come.

Local college students receive American Legion academic awards
Waterbury’s Harry N. Cutting American Legion Post #59 recently presented academic achievement awards to two local college freshmen who graduated from Harwood Union High School in 2024.

Harwood’s $49.2 million budget to cut 15-20 jobs, lower taxes for many
Harwood’s school board has decided to put a 2025-26 school budget to the voters in March that increases spending slightly, is likely to lower school taxes for many, but relies on cutting some 15-20 full-time jobs across the district.

Scott administration unveils education plan with just 5 school districts statewide
MONTPELIER— State officials unveiled the broad strokes of Gov. Phil Scott’s education proposal Wednesday, a plan that includes sweeping changes like consolidating Vermont’s dozens of school districts to just five and adopting a foundation formula.

Help Wanted: 8 Harwood school board seats on March ballots
The upcoming Town Meeting Day election will be important for the Harwood Unified Union School District School Board this year as eight of the board’s 14 seats will be on ballots across five of the district’s six communities.

Harwood among Vt. districts hit by widespread school data breach
The personal data of students and staff at several dozen Vermont school districts may have been compromised in a nationwide data breach of a student information system, according to state education officials.

Crossett Brook, Harwood middle schools are state finalists in STEM competition
Crossett Brook and Harwood Union middle schools are two of five Vermont schools named as state finalists in the 15th annual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition.

No wrong answers: Harwood Socrates Café poses a question for all to ponder
An educational tradition continues at Harwood Union High School on Jan. 9 with the latest gathering of a Socrates Café for community members to join students to ponder a question, share, and learn.

Local students among nominees to U.S. service academies
Two Waterbury high school students are among a group of applicants to the U.S. service academies that will meet with Vermont’s Congressional delegation members on Saturday at the Vermont State House.

Harwood district radon testing is underway
Dear guardians and staff: In 2021, the Vermont legislature passed a law requiring all schools to test for radon (see Section 12 of Act 72 (2021)). Our schools are beginning that testing process in December. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about radon testing.

School officials: Job cuts key to containing Harwood’s FY26 budget
The first of several public sessions to discuss public school funding for next year drew about two dozen people last week and more online as Harwood school officials answered questions and shared details of the draft proposal that will eventually appear on the Town Meeting Day ballot in March.

School budget public info meeting set for Thursday
The Harwood Unified Union School District School Board will host a special public informational session on Thursday about the process to build a proposed 2025-26 school budget that voters will consider next spring.

Reading mentors needed for Brookside 2nd graders
Second graders at Brookside Primary School in Waterbury are looking for Everybody Wins! reading mentors.

Brookside co-principal completes school leadership program
The Snelling Center for Government announced that Brookside Primary School Co-Principal Sarah Schoolcraft of Duxbury has graduated from its Vermont School Leadership Project.

Survey: Mental health challenges persist for Vt. students
Vermont adolescents and teens are reporting less risky behavior when it comes to drug, alcohol and tobacco use while many young people say they are grappling with mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression.

Sen. Sanders seeks student essays for annual contest
In keeping with his tradition, Vermont’s senior U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has issued his annual call for entries in the 15th State of the Union Essay Contest for Vermont high school students.

Brookside Primary School community mourns the loss of ‘Mr. Mark’
The Brookside Primary School community received sad news late last week. Longtime school staff member best known as the friendly morning and afternoon crossing guard Mark Swahn passed away on Nov. 21.

Crossett Brook salutes students for being caring, curious, connected
Crossett Brook Middle School recently held its All-School Student-Led Assembly marking the end of the first trimester and celebrating student achievements that highlight the school’s core values to be caring, curious, and connected.

Community raises questions, concerns at education funding panel
Hoping to avoid a repeat next year, local school officials held an educational forum last week with a panel discussion among state lawmakers, school administrators and an education funding expert. About 50 people attended the Nov. 19 event at Harwood Union High School.

Harwood Union Theatre presents ‘Treasure Island’ Nov. 7-9
They promise “this isn’t your grandparents’ ‘Treasure Island’” in announcing the fall production by Harwood Union Theatre.