The 802 Ed
What's going on in Vermont education policy and practice
Welcome back!
This issue of the 802 Ed covers many topics that are immediately useful like the latest on the efforts to get an education reform bill across the finish line, free national park passes for fourth graders, and the downside of Chromebooks in the classroom. Be sure to check out the opportunity for educators who like to clown around!
New to the lingo? At the suggestion of a reader we include a guide to common abbreviations, just scroll down past the news.
- Steven Berbeco, Editor
School Leadership
“The Clock Has Run Out.” Seven Days VT wraps up a tumultuous few weeks as the Senate wrangled its own version of an education reform bill, but in the end went back to the version they started with: “I will say that we have given Vermonters and our colleagues in the House a bit of a show over the last couple of days.”
“This is wild.” VT Digger describes last week’s negotiations between the House and Senate on the education bill that took many twists and turns.
“Never take a vote you don’t know the outcome of.” The VPO scorches Senate leadership in failing to produce an education bill that the Democrats would support.
Still at it. Stay tuned, the House is scheduled to reconvene to debate education a couple hours after this issue of the 802 Ed drops.
Ban the Chromebooks? Education Week follows up on a recent national survey of teachers that found classroom laptops are a greater source of distraction for students than cellphones: “Giving some students a device is like asking an alcoholic to hold a drink - it’s just too tempting.”
Claiming What’s Yours. Higher Ed Jobs offers advice on how to present professional accomplishments, whether it’s part of a job search or for other audiences.
More Stick, Less Carrot. Stateline reviews how states are responding to the recent federal guidance on student discipline.
Putting A Bow on The School Year. Education Week offers suggestions on how to make the most of the final weeks of the school year and leave things on a high note.
Pausing on Student Visas. Politico reports that the federal administration has ordered embassies and consulates abroad to stop scheduling interviews for student visas.
“Rushed, Opaque, and Unprofessional.” Seven Days VT sends up a signal flare about how school closings may happen in the future, by focusing on the experience of a community experiencing a cost-cutting measure. This was a popular item in last issue, so here it is again for readers who may have missed it
“Decorum Will Be Maintained.” The Chester Telegraph offers a critical analysis of a recent school board meeting, suggesting possible breaches of Open Meeting Law and questioning whether a vacant seat on the school board existed in the first place.
Downside of Vouchers. Stateline follows up on the budget impact that school voucher programs are expected to make on states that have adopted this approach.
Housing vs. Schools. Seven Days VT peeks behind the legislative curtain to explain why increasing support for housing in Vermont may end up hurting the schools.
What’s The (Big) Idea? The Hechinger Report brings us up to date on current research into literacy comprehension and reading for the main idea.
Heads Up, Vermont. States are taking innovative steps to support their students and Vermont school leaders and lawmakers should take note:
More than half of all the states now have laws on the books limiting use of mobile phones in schools.
Lawmakers in Maine are considering several bills to expand child care in the state.
School social workers in Florida no longer need to be certified teachers.
School Shootings in 2025. Education Week’s tracker has logged seven school shootings in 2025: “On May 7, a 15-year-old student accidentally shot another 15-year-old student on a school bus outside Thurston High School in Redford, Mich.” Total school shootings in 2024: 39. As a reminder, DPS and AOE operate an anonymous school safety tip line for students, school staff, and their community: calling 1-844-SAFE4VT; texting SAFE4VT to 274637; or online at safe4vt.org. For questions about school safety training in Vermont, contact Rob Evans.
Buzz On The Street
This sections highlights recent op-eds and letters to the editor about education. Send a note and tell us what you think!
Rep. Peter Conlon calls on the governor to set the course on education and health care: “No one else in Vermont has his megaphone.”
Liz Edsell asks legislators and school leaders to slow down on their decision-making around education and open more conversations with their communities.
Sen. Thomas Chittenden argues against H.454, the education reform bill: “I am not convinced that what this bill contemplates is what Vermont wants.”
Alice Leeds points to healthcare as the largest driver of costs in education: “My head is spinning trying to keep up with all the permutations of Vermont H.454.”
David F. Kelley cautions against moving forward with the House and Senate education reform bills and predicts “a massive transfer of power” from communities to the state government.
David Schoales criticizes assumptions that legislators are making about the House’s education reform bill: “Haste and hubris will not bring the fairness Vermonters want.”
Reader Survey
In each issue we ask a survey question to get a sense of what is on our readers’ minds. Then, the following issue, we report back on what we learned.
Last issue we asked: Do you know how long it is until the end of the school year? Responses were strongest for I know the last day of school but I don’t keep count and Yes, I can tell you how many days, with a few readers selecting No, I like to be surprised.
This issue’s survey question: Should the legislature push through an education reform bill before adjourning until January? Please indicate your response by clicking a check mark.
✅ Yes, we need decisions to be made now
✅ No, clearly this needs more discussion
✅ I’m a legislator and I just want my summer to start
Thank you to the reader from Montpelier who suggested that survey question. What’s on your mind? Suggest a survey question to find out how your colleagues respond in an upcoming issue of the 802 Ed!
How Ya Doin’?
The end of school year and summer can be challenging for many reasons. It may be helpful to look for support around personal and professional issues. If you would like to schedule a time to talk with a rostered psychotherapist and VPA mentor, we can work on making small but significant steps that promote self-care, communication, and control. Sponsored by 802 Ed
Listen Up
Check out the 802 Ed’s conversation-style podcast! Generated by Notebook LM
Job Listings
Supercharge The Applicant Pool. The market for school staff in Vermont is fierce and it’s important to stand out when attracting quality candidates. Why get wedged in among thousands of open positions on SchoolSpring? Your opportunity can stand out in an upcoming issue of the 802 Ed, dropping into the Inbox of thousands of readers. Sponsored by 802 Ed
School Leader Vacancies. Latest report from VPA counts 59 school leader positions, like principal and assistant principal, that are turning over for next school year.
The Big List. Josh Czupryk compiles and publishes a monthly spreadsheet with more than 500 job opportunities for remote work in K-12 education.
Looking for a Change? With so many open positions, there are sometimes unusual opportunities. For example, Cirque du Soleil is hiring clowns, for those looking to use their skills in another field. [I used to work as a clown for Zippo’s Family Circus of Laughter, it was awesome! -Ed.]
Thank The Team
You read it, you love it, and now is a good time to say thanks. Cover our coffee budget! Writing, editing, researching… all of that is caffeine driven. Choose this option and the extra energy will go to finding a few more updates to share.
Note From The Editor
Welcome back, warmer weather! We have missed your maple creemees, forest walks, farmer’s markets, and backyard barbecues.
It’s also the season for road races, or whatever you want to call a bunch of people getting together to run down a zig-zag of streets and celebrate that our legs haven’t atrophied during the winter months.
For me, I picked up a bib number recently and got myself over the finish line. Unlike, shall we say, some of the good folks in Montpelier.
It’s that darn education reform bill. You know, the one that was introduced well into this year’s session with pomp, circumstance, and festive balloons – that seemed to have been made of lead.
As one pundit predicted: “It’ll end in tears and vetoes.”
The House managed to cook up a bill that the governor said he would veto, and said again last week for good measure.
Meanwhile, the Senate education committee produced a bill that even the Senate wouldn’t support. With the clock ticking on adjournment, the conference committee of the House and Senate decided to push their deadline to mid-June.
If I ran a road race like this, I’d still be jogging in place with the finish line in sight. It’s not a good look. As a legislator said: “This is some of the most consequential policy that any of us will ever vote on, and this is how we do it? It’s embarrassing.”
We are almost at the end of the school year, and to be self-serving about it, nearing the final issue of the 802 Ed before a break for the summer.
Here’s hoping that the threat of a summer in Montpelier will be enough to get the legislators to agree on what education in Vermont should look like.
Eye on Data
The chart below tracks open positions for facilities workers in the past 60 days, presented as data points and a linear trend line. Data from SchoolSpring.
Pass It On
Like what you are reading? Hit the button below to send a copy to a colleague, friend, neighbor, your boss… whoever!
Colleagues on the Move
Congratulations to these colleagues who received administrator licensure from AOE since the last issue of the 802 Ed! Data from AOE.
Linda Green • Superintendent, Principal
Sierra Saari • Principal
Cat Seltzer • Principal
Dale Urie • Principal
Do you know a colleague who has made a recent move? Let us know!
Grants & Opportunities
Mental Health First Aid. Virtual, no-cost workshops are available to educators and others who want to learn skills in identifying and responding to symptoms of mental illness and substance use disorder. May and June.
National Park Passes. The National Park Services and other agencies offer a free year-long pass for fourth graders to all federal parks, lands, and waters.
Board Excellence. The VSBA has launched an award competition to honor a Vermont school board that exemplifies outstanding governance and demonstrates a measurable, positive impact on both students and the community it serves. Nominations deadline is June 30.
Contracted Services. Barre Unified Union School District has recently posted an RFP for professional learning groups, coaching, consultation, and professional development in trauma-informed schools, virtual educational services, and more. Deadline is June 30.
Student Summer STEM Conference. University of Vermont is inviting 25 high school students to participate in the annual Stem Cells, Cell Therapies, and Bioengineering in Lung Biology and Diseases conference on July 7. Subsidized housing and transportation may be available.
If You Missed It
Fare Thee Well, Alis! AOE recently announced a summer upgrade in its licensing software from the Aithent Licensing System (ALiS) to a new platform, with a two-week blackout period in early July.
CIA of the Year. Congratulations to Jennifer Settle, recently awarded Curriculum Director of the Year by the VTCLA!
Low-Staff FAPE. AOE has published guidance on how to support federal requirements of Free and Appropriate Public Education when a school is not fully staffed.
Mascots Probed. The U.S. Department of Education recently announced its findings that a New York school district shouldn’t have been made to change its mascot, the Chiefs: “The Trump Administration will not stand idly by as state leaders attempt to eliminate the history and culture of Native American tribes.”
Hot Toppings on Education. There’s No ‘A’ in Creemee, a new podcast covering Vermont politics, goes in depth on education finance including gossip from the statehouse cafeteria.
Bergh to Retire. The president of Vermont State University announced recently that he will retire at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year.
Keeping Healthy. MyFutureVT offers practical advice in a blog post on how to prioritize mental health while balancing professional responsibilities.
Since 2021 the biweekly 802 Ed has brought together the latest from Vermont's associations for principals, superintendents, and school board members, as well as state and national education agencies and many other news sources. We hope that you'll find something useful in each issue and welcome comments or suggestions for upcoming issues: editor@802ed.com.
Abbreviation list: AASA School Superintendents Association, AOE Agency of Education, DCF Department for Children and Families, DMH Department of Mental Health, DPS Department of Public Safety, FERPA Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, NAEP National Assessment of Education Progress, NEASC New England Association of Schools and Colleges, RFP Request for Proposals, SBE State Board of Education, SEL Social Emotional Learning, UVEI Upper Valley Educators Institute, VEHI Vermont Education Health Initiative, VPA Vermont Principals Association, VPO Vermont Political Observer, VREC Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, VSA Vermont Superintendents Association, VSBA Vermont School Board Association, VSBIT Vermont School Boards Insurance Trust, VSBPE Vermont Standards Board for Professional Educators, VTCLA Vermont Curriculum Leaders Association, VTSU Vermont State University.
Special bonus for making it to the bottom: Finally, a bespoke white noise website that is curated for every occasion: marimbas, speech blockers, singing bowls, and the ever-popular “oblivion.”