The Vermont Supreme Court issued an important opinion on school district and school employee liability in late July. The Court’s decision in Janice Edson v. Barre Supervisory Union #61 provides insight into the "standard of care" schools are expected to apply in situations involving student safety. 
From September 6 - 27, 2007, Project Harmony, an international nonprofit organization based in Waitsfield, Vermont is hosting ten men and women from the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan, who are participating in a Community Connections program sponsored by USAID and administered by World Learning. During their stay in Vermont, these education professionals are receiving training and learning about our educational systems from a diverse array of education representatives. 
Editor’s Note: The following article identifies valuable workforce education and training resources that the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) can provide to students in your school. Please share this article with your district administrators. For more information, contact Greg Voorheis, Vermont Department of Labor, Senior Grant Manager, at greg.voorheis@state.vt.us.
A Vermont AP biology teacher was named the winner of the National Teacher of the Year Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement. Each year one teacher from a pool of over 15-thousand schools is selected. Mr. David Ely has worked at Champlain Valley Union High School in Vermont since 1979. During his tenure, more than 750 students have taken the national exam, with 98 percent receiving qualifying scores and 450 receiving a five. 
On November 1, 2007, at the Vermont School Boards and Vermont Superintendents Associations Annual Fall Conference, VSBIT will hold its Annual Meeting. The meeting will take place in the late afternoon. Check the official agenda for the time and location.
Washington County Schools Vary Widely on Breakfast Participation by Low-income Students:
Findings of Survey by Local Hunger CouncilThe Hunger Council of Washington County, comprised of local leaders and policy makers, is dedicated to reducing childhood hunger in the County. Concerned that childhood hunger rates are increasing in Vermont and recognizing that school meals are a critical source of nutrition for children, the Council surveyed all the public schools in Washington County about their school meal programs.
The Council was gratified to learn that all public schools in Washington County offer both school breakfast and lunch. However, the participation rates by students in these meal programs vary widely among the schools. Breakfast participation by low-income students ranges from a low of 14% at one small rural elementary school to a high of 60% in another similar school. The survey found that breakfast participation increased significantly when schools offered breakfast in the classroom at snack time. Another finding is that students eligible for free or reduced price meals were more apt to participate in breakfast when there is a higher percentage of low income students in the school.
The survey asked questions about enrollment procedures in free/reduced price meals and whether support was given to parents with low literacy to help them fill out the applications. The Council determined that schools could do more to increase free/reduced enrollment by encouraging all parents - not just parents who believe they are eligible - to return the applications and by providing help completing applications.
The Council was very impressed with the dedication of school food service directors and with the quality of some of the programs. In 23 of the 26 public schools, local products were incorporated into the meals programs. The survey found that more than half of the meal programs were supported with local funds. Recognizing that school meals are a critical source of nutrition for students, Council members are working with communities to increase access to summer meal programs with enrichment activities.
For a copy of the "Best Practices in Vermont School Meals" or information on school meal participation at your school, please contact the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger (VTCECH) at dkeeney@vtnohunger.org or 802-865-0255. The Hunger Council of Washington County was convened by VTCECH with support from the Northfield Savings Bank.
Ginny Burley, School Board Chair of U32
Dorigen Keeney, Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger
