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Education
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Burlington / Education University of Vermont Faculty and Students Sound Off As Presidential Finalist Visits Campus
Posted By Molly Walsh on Thu, Feb 14, 2019 at 8:03 PM
The sole finalist for the presidency of the University of Vermont, Suresh Garimella, was confident and cordial as he wrapped up a press conference with media on campus Thursday at the Dudley H. Davis Center. Nearby, an unhappy crowd gathered.
More than 100 students and faculty rallied to protest what they said was an undemocratic presidential search process.
They also railed against staff and faculty cuts in the humanities in response to declining enrollment and accused administrators of having an "edifice" complex that puts expensive buildings ahead of investments in teaching and learning.
Bloated administrative salaries and a "widget" mentality that looks at students as "data points" also came under fire at the rally, where protestors bemoaned a budget model they said is leading to the death of intellectualism at the school.
More than 100 students and faculty rallied to protest what they said was an undemocratic presidential search process.
They also railed against staff and faculty cuts in the humanities in response to declining enrollment and accused administrators of having an "edifice" complex that puts expensive buildings ahead of investments in teaching and learning.
Bloated administrative salaries and a "widget" mentality that looks at students as "data points" also came under fire at the rally, where protestors bemoaned a budget model they said is leading to the death of intellectualism at the school.
Burlington / Education State Revokes Burlington Guidance Director's License
Posted By Molly Walsh on Thu, Feb 14, 2019 at 6:12 PM
A state panel has revoked the license of embattled Burlington High School guidance director Mario Macias.
In a decision issued Thursday, the hearing panel concluded that Macias, who is on leave from his job, was guilty of three out of seven alleged licensing violations that were leveled at him last year.
He shouted at one employee, ridiculed another and "unreasonably impaired" colleagues' ability to perform their duties, which constituted misconduct, the panel determined.
Macias also showed incompetence and inability to perform the basic duties of his job, another violation, according to the panel. Macias further violated standards by inappropriately engaging in conversation with a student about the licensing charges against him, the panel found.
In a decision issued Thursday, the hearing panel concluded that Macias, who is on leave from his job, was guilty of three out of seven alleged licensing violations that were leveled at him last year.
He shouted at one employee, ridiculed another and "unreasonably impaired" colleagues' ability to perform their duties, which constituted misconduct, the panel determined.
Macias also showed incompetence and inability to perform the basic duties of his job, another violation, according to the panel. Macias further violated standards by inappropriately engaging in conversation with a student about the licensing charges against him, the panel found.
Education / Fair Game Extra
Walters: One Year Later, Fair Haven Still Resonates
Posted By John Walters on Thu, Feb 14, 2019 at 4:42 PM
Gov. Phil Scott began his weekly press conference Thursday by recalling a tragedy and a near-tragedy that occurred the same week in February 2018. He cited the one-year anniversary of the "senseless, tragic and horrific" school shooting on February 14 in Parkland, Fla. — and the apparent plan by a Vermont teenager to commit a mass shooting at Fair Haven Union High School, which was thwarted just a day after Parkland.
The governor praised the Fair Haven community for its "courage in supporting each other."
The arrest of 18-year-old Jack Sawyer and the revelation of his detailed plans to shoot "as many as I can get" proved to be a turning point for Scott. In the aftermath, the governor reversed his longstanding opposition to gun-safety legislation. In April, he signed a package of gun bills into law.
Brooke Olsen-Farrell, superintendent of the Addison-Rutland Supervisory Union, spoke of the "tremendously resilient community" at the high school. "Everyone has banded together to really support one another," she added.
The governor praised the Fair Haven community for its "courage in supporting each other."
The arrest of 18-year-old Jack Sawyer and the revelation of his detailed plans to shoot "as many as I can get" proved to be a turning point for Scott. In the aftermath, the governor reversed his longstanding opposition to gun-safety legislation. In April, he signed a package of gun bills into law.
Related In Range: The Week That Changed Vermont's Gun Politics
In Range: The Week That Changed Vermont's Gun Politics
Politics
Sunday, February 10, 2019
Education / History UVM's Kake Walk Featured Blackface Performers for Decades
Posted By Derek Brouwer on Sun, Feb 10, 2019 at 10:51 PM
Updated February 12, 2019
When “Meet the Press” needed a guest to counter Alabama governor George Wallace’s segregationist views in 1964, the NBC show called on a progressive leader from Vermont. The late governor Phil Hoff delivered, supporting the new Civil Rights Act “while projecting Vermont’s self-image as a racially enlightened society,” according to the 2011 biography Philip Hoff: How Red Turned Blue in the Green Mountain State.
Yet the governor also appeared more than once before thousands of people gathered at the University of Vermont to watch a popular annual blackface show called “A-Walkin-’Fo-De-Kake,” or Kake Walk. The event was so significant — and accepted — that local and state elected officials handed out trophies and cake to the fraternity brothers who performed best.
The 1963 Kake Walk program listed Hoff, lieutenant governor Ralph Foote, Burlington mayor Robert Bing and UVM president John Fey among the dignitaries scheduled to present awards.
When “Meet the Press” needed a guest to counter Alabama governor George Wallace’s segregationist views in 1964, the NBC show called on a progressive leader from Vermont. The late governor Phil Hoff delivered, supporting the new Civil Rights Act “while projecting Vermont’s self-image as a racially enlightened society,” according to the 2011 biography Philip Hoff: How Red Turned Blue in the Green Mountain State.
Yet the governor also appeared more than once before thousands of people gathered at the University of Vermont to watch a popular annual blackface show called “A-Walkin-’Fo-De-Kake,” or Kake Walk. The event was so significant — and accepted — that local and state elected officials handed out trophies and cake to the fraternity brothers who performed best.
The 1963 Kake Walk program listed Hoff, lieutenant governor Ralph Foote, Burlington mayor Robert Bing and UVM president John Fey among the dignitaries scheduled to present awards.
Thursday, February 7, 2019
Education / Statehouse House Passes Plan to Delay Some Forced School District Mergers
Posted By Taylor Dobbs on Thu, Feb 7, 2019 at 3:20 PM
House lawmakers passed a bill Thursday that would provide a deadline extension for some school districts that have been ordered to merge by Vermont’s Board of Education.
The legislation is a scaled-back version of a proposal that would have provided a one-year extension for all of the districts that were required to merge by July 1, 2019. That measure, which had support from a tripartisan coalition of House lawmakers, failed Wednesday.
The legislation is a scaled-back version of a proposal that would have provided a one-year extension for all of the districts that were required to merge by July 1, 2019. That measure, which had support from a tripartisan coalition of House lawmakers, failed Wednesday.
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Education / Statehouse Vermont House Defeats School District Merger Delay, But It's Not Over Yet
Posted By Taylor Dobbs on Wed, Feb 6, 2019 at 7:04 PM
Vermont lawmakers narrowly defeated a tripartisan proposal Wednesday that would have provided a one-year deadline extension to school districts that have been ordered to merge by July.
The 69-74 vote in the Vermont House was a setback for communities asking for more time to set up new, merged districts — but it did not signify the end of the road.
Dozens of districts are also looking to the courts for help. They’ve sued the state Board of Education, which ordered the mergers under Act 46, arguing that the mandate is unconstitutional. Those hoping for delay said the extra time would allow for the court cases to be resolved before the districts are forced to change their governance.
Despite Wednesday's defeat, a more limited delay may still be in the offing.
The 69-74 vote in the Vermont House was a setback for communities asking for more time to set up new, merged districts — but it did not signify the end of the road.
Dozens of districts are also looking to the courts for help. They’ve sued the state Board of Education, which ordered the mergers under Act 46, arguing that the mandate is unconstitutional. Those hoping for delay said the extra time would allow for the court cases to be resolved before the districts are forced to change their governance.
Despite Wednesday's defeat, a more limited delay may still be in the offing.
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
Education / Statehouse House to Vote on Dueling Proposals to Delay School District Mergers
Posted By Taylor Dobbs on Tue, Feb 5, 2019 at 8:36 PM
The legislature passed Act 46 in 2015, but House lawmakers are preparing for yet another emotional debate Wednesday about how soon the state should force school districts to merge.
House lawmakers are set to vote Wednesday on a bill from Rep. Heidi Scheuermann (R-Stowe) that would delay forced school district mergers ordered by the state Board of Education. But Scheuermann says an alternative proposal passed late Tuesday afternoon by the House Education Committee has the potential to fracture a tripartisan coalition supporting her bill.
House lawmakers are set to vote Wednesday on a bill from Rep. Heidi Scheuermann (R-Stowe) that would delay forced school district mergers ordered by the state Board of Education. But Scheuermann says an alternative proposal passed late Tuesday afternoon by the House Education Committee has the potential to fracture a tripartisan coalition supporting her bill.
Monday, February 4, 2019
Education University of Vermont Names 'Sole Finalist' for President Job
Posted By Taylor Dobbs on Mon, Feb 4, 2019 at 4:33 PM
The University of Vermont has announced a single finalist for the top job on campus.
Suresh Garimella, executive vice president for research and partnerships at Purdue University in Indiana, is scheduled to visit UVM’s campus at the end of next week. He is the “sole finalist” to replace outgoing president Thomas Sullivan, according to an announcement Monday from UVM Board of Trustees chair David Daigle.
“We had over 90 outstanding individuals apply for our presidency. The search committee personally interviewed 10 of the most highly qualified candidates in this exceptional pool,” Daigle wrote. “Candidate confidentiality requirements necessitate that we not identify publicly the entire group of outstanding finalists."
Suresh Garimella, executive vice president for research and partnerships at Purdue University in Indiana, is scheduled to visit UVM’s campus at the end of next week. He is the “sole finalist” to replace outgoing president Thomas Sullivan, according to an announcement Monday from UVM Board of Trustees chair David Daigle.
“We had over 90 outstanding individuals apply for our presidency. The search committee personally interviewed 10 of the most highly qualified candidates in this exceptional pool,” Daigle wrote. “Candidate confidentiality requirements necessitate that we not identify publicly the entire group of outstanding finalists."
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Education / Energy / Environment / News Middlebury College to Divest $55 Million From Fossil Fuel Companies
Posted By Derek Brouwer on Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 6:03 PM
Years of student pressure is prompting Middlebury College to phase out most investments in fossil-fuel companies, the school announced Tuesday.
The board of trustees for the private liberal arts college unanimously voted to divest January 26 as part of a sweeping sustainability plan dubbed Energy2028, according to a Tuesday press release.
Trustees had previously rejected students' divestment demands. The college's resistance was notable because scholar-in-residence Bill McKibben is a leading proponent of the international movement, as is the organization he and a group of Midd students founded in 2008, 350.org.
The board of trustees for the private liberal arts college unanimously voted to divest January 26 as part of a sweeping sustainability plan dubbed Energy2028, according to a Tuesday press release.
Trustees had previously rejected students' divestment demands. The college's resistance was notable because scholar-in-residence Bill McKibben is a leading proponent of the international movement, as is the organization he and a group of Midd students founded in 2008, 350.org.
Education South Burlington High School to Raise a Black Lives Matter Flag
Posted By Molly Walsh on Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 3:11 PM
South Burlington High School students and faculty will raise a Black Lives Matter flag on Friday, and some residents have sharply criticized the plan.
The school board voted unanimously to support the flag-raising back in June. It will fly at the school during February in honor of Black History Month. School officials expect to hoist it in future years to mark the month.
Partly in response to concerns about potential disruptions and safety, school district leaders have limited public access. Only students and employees will be able to attend the 3 p.m. event. Other observers, including members of the news media, will only be allowed to watch from across the street from the school, on the west side of Dorset Street, in the parking lot by South Burlington's municipal building.
"Keeping the Black Lives Matter flag-raising assembly and outside ceremony limited to students and staff enhances student safety," superintendent David Young said in a public statement. "Additionally, the student leaders' and their advisers' goal for both the assembly and ceremony is to raise awareness, deepen learning and inspire further dialogue within their school community."
The school board voted unanimously to support the flag-raising back in June. It will fly at the school during February in honor of Black History Month. School officials expect to hoist it in future years to mark the month.
Partly in response to concerns about potential disruptions and safety, school district leaders have limited public access. Only students and employees will be able to attend the 3 p.m. event. Other observers, including members of the news media, will only be allowed to watch from across the street from the school, on the west side of Dorset Street, in the parking lot by South Burlington's municipal building.
"Keeping the Black Lives Matter flag-raising assembly and outside ceremony limited to students and staff enhances student safety," superintendent David Young said in a public statement. "Additionally, the student leaders' and their advisers' goal for both the assembly and ceremony is to raise awareness, deepen learning and inspire further dialogue within their school community."
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