New data from the Vermont Agency of Education shows that even more than healthcare costs, federal funds, and unfunded mandates, the largest contributor to the $230M increase in education spending is staffing (salaries, benefits, new hires), the Campaign for Vermont reports. Last week legislators heard that Vermont’s (smallest in the country) class sizes may actually be harming students. The Agency of Education has offered to start working on minimum class size standards to both protect students’ classroom experience and gain efficiencies.

“Very small class sizes don’t allow teachers to use flexible grouping and cooperative learning. It limits the instructional experiences students can have. This is not quality instruction,” said Meagan Roy, Superintendent of the Washington Central Supervisory Union.

Abenaki music program – The Ethan Allen Homestead Museum in Colchester Sunday, March 17 at 2 PM will host “Our Songs Remember,” a combination lecture and performance focusing on the ways in which the Abenaki oral traditions of storytelling and music play a part in the preservation of indigenous ways. Incorporating Pakholigan (the drum) and Pabekongan (the flute) father and son Joseph and Jesse Bruchac will take a journey to the enduring roots of the Western Abenaki nations, showing how songs carry the heart and meaning of this enduring Native American culture. Both English and Abenaki language will be heard throughout the presentation and several stories will be told that exemplify the way oral tradition has always served at least two purposes—to entertain and to instruct. A well-published author in many genres, Joseph Bruchac is a citizen and honored elder of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation. Jesse Bruchac, also an enrolled Nulhegan citizen, is the founder and Director of the School of Abenaki at Middlebury College, a musician, and frequent language consultant for television and movies. To register, go to: http://www.ethanallenhomestead.org

Feds grant state disaster claim for December storm – President Joseph Biden has signed a Major Public Assistance disaster declaration for seven Vermont counties to assist communities in recovering costs for the repair of public infrastructure damaged by severe storms and flooding on December 18-19. The declaration covers Essex, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor counties.

“I appreciate the Federal government’s quick response to the flooding disasters we’ve faced over the last several months. Between the July, August and December flooding, we have a long road ahead and my team will continue to do all we can to help with recovery, and support mitigation that will better secure communities in the future,” Gov. Phil Scott said. 

Cities and towns in the declared counties now qualify for 75% reimbursement of recovery costs arising from the storm under the Federal Emergency Management Agency Public Assistance Program. Eligible costs include debris removal, road and public building repairs, staff overtime responding to and cleaning up after the storm, and contractor assistance.

State and Federal assessors identified more than $1.9 million in storm-eligible costs during a Preliminary Damage Assessment in December, although the final tally will likely be higher statewide.

I-91 still closed in Bradford – I-91 south is still closed between exits 16 in Bradford and 15 in Fairlee while crews work to repair and mitigate a rockslide. VTrans cautions that the closure could extend through at least Monday, March 11.

As part of the project, rolling roadblocks on I-91 north between Exit 14 in Thetford and Exit 16 in Bradford will continue throughout each day for ledge stabilization. Expect minor delays during daytime hours.

Meanwhile, there may also be minor delays on Route 5 just north of Fairlee village where the roadway and the interstate are adjacent to each other. There are intermittent closings due to blasting for ledge stabilization.

Missing woman found – The Bradford woman reported missing yesterday has been found safe. Karri Simpson had not been seen by her family since March 1, but she was located safely by the Bradford Police Department yesterday in Bradford.

Mobile home parks get water grants – The State of Vermont today announced $13.3 million in Healthy Homes Initiative awards and $2.2 million in Three-acre Stormwater Initiative awards to help 46 manufactured housing communities (also known as mobile home parks) repair, replace, and upgrade water infrastructure.

The awards will improve water infrastructure for an estimated 5,608 residents – including 1,882 seniors and 933 children. They will gain more reliable access to safe drinking water and will have improved drainage, stormwater, and wastewater systems, protecting both them and the environment.

Recipients include: