From cult recovery to political clarity: A Vermont writer speaks out
Granted, the sudden switch to a totalitarian-led government after 250 years of (imperfect) democracy is not easy to get used to. But here we are.
Lt. Gov. Rodgers: Building opportunities for our youth and businesses
Vermont’s infrastructure – our roads, bridges, water systems, and stormwater control – is the backbone of our communities and economy. As our state struggles with aging public infrastructure, the need for timely repair, replacement, and innovation has never been more urgent.
OPINION: Where are our once vibrant towns?
As Vermont, like other states, feels the accelerating pressures of so-called progress, we must work to protect the families and communities that nurture our very humanity.
Kerrigan: Time to think outside the box
Former HUUSD teacher and coach John Kerrigan suggests ways for the school district to increase enrollment and add revenue in order to keep all schools open.
Op-Ed: Due process, free speech, legal presence are in peril
Recent detentions of legally present individuals – including a Turkish doctoral student and a Palestinian resident of Vermont – raise urgent questions about whether our institutions are upholding core American principles like due process, free speech, and equal protection under the law.
LETTER: Does ‘local control’ serve students or adults?
To the Community - the Harwood School Board has taken a strong stance against the governor’s school district consolidation proposal. I completely disagree.
LETTER: Next federal budget could eliminate Vermont Head Start programs
Though the next federal budget has not yet been released, the potential proposed elimination of Head Start programs would be catastrophic for working families, vulnerable young children, and Head Start employees.
Op-Ed: Medical debt relief will help survivors gain economic security
At the Vermont Network, we support survivors of domestic and sexual violence, amplify their voices and build safer communities.
Op-Ed: Big changes to education don’t always live up to their promises
Now that the House has passed an education reform plan, it will be easy to get bogged down in the minutiae that differentiate it from Gov. Phil Scott’s “Education Transformation Proposal.” But before Vermonters get lost in the weeds debating these proposals, they might want to ask themselves if they support the radical change that both plans represent:
Rep. Wood: H.91 replaces hotel/motel vouchers with a ‘major step forward’ to house Vermonters
The issue of homelessness is not new to Vermont, but the COVID-19 pandemic illuminated just how many people in Vermont lack the safety of having a roof over their heads. H.91 would replace the “hotel/motel program.”
Rep. Torre: Highlights of H.454, the House education transformation bill
A final House vote is expected today on the major focus of our work this session, the education transformation bill, H.454.
Commentary: DOGE cuts threaten our history
History is our story. It is ours to celebrate, reconcile with, learn from, and build on. But we can’t do any of these things if we don’t have the resources to preserve and access our story. Maybe for the Trump administration, that’s the point.
Vt. schools aren’t as broken as some say – A different ‘transformation’ is in order
A more precise and measured approach is worth considering as our state tackles both structural system reforms and how we pay for education.
OPINION: Give students a seat at the table
By energetically pursuing student engagement in the next steps toward the future of public education, lawmakers can pave the way for a more inclusive and informed Vermont.
COMMENTARY: Where’s Phil Scott?
I was at the Hands-Off rally in Montpelier on Saturday. It was an amazing display of solidarity and showed the determination we need to oppose what's going on in our nation's capital.
Rep. Stevens: Another veto of ‘the very least we can do’
Unfortunately, I have to update the status of the Budget Adjustment Act, which the governor imperiously vetoed again last Friday.
LETTER: Notes on radio in the 2000s
Many of you know that Jack Donovan recently hung up his WDEV earphones. He and I had a conversation recently about changes in radio since he and I began.
LETTER: Are crowded classrooms worth minimal savings?
For those of you who think that closing elementary schools (for barely any savings) might be a good idea, please read.
OPINION: America’s suicide attempt
While I’ve greatly enjoyed studying the Middle Ages, I sure as hell wouldn’t want to live through them. We’re about to do something unprecedented among developed countries, which is to reject the benefits of modern science and medicine.
Call to action: Veteran teacher says let’s be honest about ed spending
Vermont’s Education Fund is facing a major issue—but it’s not about spending on education itself. The fund has been used as a political dumping ground, with continuous unfunded mandates piling up.