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WSESD Board Public Statement

by Not Signed In | Education

We, the members of the WSESD School Board (the Board), are grateful for the opportunity to serve our community and, like you, are horrified by the revelations shared in Ms. Haskins-Rogers’ August 2021 article in the Commons and other information reported to us since then.

Our strong personal reactions made all of us open to taking many of the steps that were suggested by members of the community. In particular, we have been impacted by the open letter signed by 167 people which has called for, among other things, an open investigation and an assessment of the district’s present-day climate and functioning.

Since this letter, we have heard your concerns about the speed with which we have proceeded; frustrations we have also felt personally. But as quickly as we might wish to bring accountability and healing to what many of you have described as an institutional betrayal, we feel bound by our roles as elected officials to proceed with due diligence—a stepwise process, but one inspired by empathy for all those affected. We remain committed to a prudent process that:

Vermont on PBS NewsHour

by cgrotke | Media

Vermont was featured on the national news last night. The PBS Newshour did a segment on Vermont and the pandemic. Our rising numbers contrast with our early successes and this makes for interesting news.

They said that Vermont’s numbers were up because 1) everyone got their shot early on so we’ve had a long time for the effects to weaken, and 2) variants are more contagious now.

People ending up in hospitals are mostly unvaccinated. People who are vaccinated are getting milder cases, but are transmitting it to those who are not vaccinated yet.  Booster shots aren’t as popular as the first round of vaccinations, either.

Julian McBrowne on”Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Entertainment

Next Stage Arts, Yellow Barn, Vermont Jazz Center – Julian McBrowne, Audio Engineer extaordinaire brings great sound and harmony wherever he goes – from our local venues to world tours and even a Caribbean island. Take a listen!

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda and Meeting Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair

II. CONSENT AGENDA
• CLERK’S REPORT – Approval of Minutes – November 9, November 16, November 19, November 30, December 9, 2021

III. Public Comment on Non-agenda Items (10 minutes)

Lighting Up The Park At Night

by cgrotke | Entertainment

I had to laugh last night during the Selectboard meeting. Dick DeGray, a former board member, called in to suggest putting lights in a park to illuminate a monument at night. It’s a good idea – flags and monuments should be lit, in my view – but it reminded me of our sock puppet selectboard special in which the sock puppet board debates putting lights in a park.

Enjoy the memories:

WSESD Special Board Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA
I. CALL TO ORDER – 6:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair

II. Executive Session – 1VSA §313(a)(1)(E) – Pending or Probable Civil Litigation or a Prosecution, Which the Public Body is or May be a Party

BCTV Schedules Week of December 6, 2021

by BCTVProg | Media

Monday, December 6, 2021

5:00 am Sustainable Woodstock – Green Drinks Series – Weatherizing Your Home
5:45 am Brattleboro Literary Festival – Leah McGrath Goodman – Author of Ariana Huffington
6:30 am At BMAC – Artist Talk – B. Lynch
7:30 am The News Project – In Studio – Community Development With CEDS
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast

FOMAG Has Cancelled the 2021 Messiah Sing

by BusyMom | Music

For those who may not have heard the news already through other media, Friends of Music at Guilford tried to plan a Messiah Sing for this December but with rising COVID statistics, we decided it wasn’t worth the gamble, even with protocols in place. To quote from the FOMAG Facebook post…

Well, we hoped and we tried. We had the venue reserved, we had a conductor and keyboard and soloists. We felt optimistic as things were opening up late summer / early fall. We worked on protocols for preregistration, contact tracing, proof of vaccine, limited seating, even debated about proof of negative COVID tests. We held off on making any go / no-go decisions as long as possible. But those accursed COVID statistics have just been getting worse and worse.

iBrattleboro Christmas Calendar Update

by cgrotke | Creative

Traditionalists here are missing the old animated history calendar for the month of December. We are, too.

There is good news to report, though. A group of programmers has been working to build a Flash emulator to play old Flash-based content. The Internet Archive is using their work to preserve old Flash files, and they are also making it available to the rest of us. 

BCTV Schedules – Week of November 29, 2021

by BCTVProg | Media

Monday, November 29, 2021

5:05 am Brattleboro Historical Society presents – Brattleboro Town Managers Corwin Elwell and Peter Elwell
6:00 am New Hampshire Citizens for Progress – Union of Concerned Scientists Combating Climate Disinformation
6:30 am The News Project – In Studio – Community Development With CEDS
7:00 am At BMAC – Artist Talk – B. Lynch
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast

Today In History – Samuel Wells

by SK-B | History

Events for Nov 27
1782
At a secret session, the United States Congress ordered the arrest of Col. Samuel Wells forcing him to flee Brattleboro.

Seems that Colonel Wells, an early developer of Brattleboro and a loyalist to the King, had to escape to Canada during the Revolutionary War.

WSESD Special Meeting Agenda

by Not Signed In | Education

AGENDA

I. CALL TO ORDER – 4:00 p.m. – David Schoales, Board Chair

II. Executive Session – 1VSA §313(a)(1)(E) – Pending or Probable Civil Litigation or
a Prosecution, Which the Public Body is or May be a Party

Historical Info Appreciated

by Truman14 | History

I just wanted to pop in to thank Chris for continuing to run the Historical events. I read them almost daily and enjoy them very much. I’m young enough that some of the “olde tyme” terms are unknown to me, so I look them up, adding to the vast array of almost useless knowledge I carry around in my head. When I looked up ‘peripatetic’ today, it struck me that a thank you was in order, so thank you!

WSESD Independent Budget Review Committee Meeting Agenda and Minutes

by Not Signed In | Education

This committee historically reviewed three budgets: the Brattleboro Town, the Brattleboro Town Schoolboard, and BUHS. Franz explained the review process was done slightly differently based upon the size of the budget and the work done by the board. The School Budget Review historically concentrated on an explanation of the complex educational funding formula, and the size of the BUHS budget made it very difficult to review every budget line item. The review committee looked at the overall line items on the budget, and not every line item as was scrutinized. Franz recommended Dick DeGray as a citizen capable of dissecting a complex school budget to the precise line item.

Gift Making Classes at HatchSpace

by HatchSpace | Creative

There is still room in several of HatchSpace’s holiday gift making classes. These classes are suitable for beginners and are a great way to learn some basic woodworking skills.   Register now before classes fill up.

All these classes are suitable for beginners.

BCTV Schedules – Week of November 22, 2021

by BCTVProg | Media

Monday, November 22, 2021

5:15 am Sustainable Woodstock – Green Drinks Series – Weatherizing Your Home
6:00 am Yestermorrow Fall Speaker Series – Building Hope, Building Careers 11/3/21
7:00 am Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts – MGFA Presents: Jackie Abrams and Karen Kamenetzky
8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast