Kindergarten registration for the Essex Junction schools will open April 19, 2010.  At that time, families can begin the process to register their children for the 2010-2011 school year.  Incoming Kindergarten students must be 5-years-old before September 1, per policy JEB: Entrance Age.  Families are invited to learn more about the process by visiting the Kindergarten Registration web-page.

Students in the Essex Junction, Westford, and Union #46 school districts (which make up Chittenden Central Supervisory Union, “CCSU”), scored comparatively high marks on the 2009 New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) tests.

“These NECAP results are valuable to us as the results help inform our continuous progress efforts,” CCSU Superintendent Michael Deweese said.  “After an early review, we are heartened by our overall scores as compared with state results.”

The NECAP reading, math and writing tests measure students’ academic knowledge and skills relative to Grade Expectations, which represent the knowledge and skills students should have achieved by the end of the previous school year. NECAP performance is categorized into four levels of achievement: Proficient with Distinction, Proficient, Partially Proficient and Substantially Below Proficient.

Currently, educators throughout CCSU are reviewing the fall 2009 NECAP results to monitor individual student performance and analyze trends within specific content areas and grade level.  Results will be used for school improvement and accountability.

At the high school level, NECAP reading, math, and writing tests are administered in grade 11. In reading, 85 percent of Essex High School (EHS) students scored proficient or above. In math, 59 percent of EHS students scored proficient or above, 24 percentage points above the state average. In writing, 65 percent of EHS students scored proficient or above. “In all three areas, we achieved the highest percentages to date in the ‘Proficient with Distinction’ category,” EHS Principal Robert Reardon said.

At the elementary and middle school levels, NECAP reading and math tests are administered in grades three through eight.

At Albert D. Lawton School, 82 percent of students scored proficient or above in reading, and 74 percent scored proficient or above in math. “ADL reading and math NECAP scores reflect our increased focus on literacy across the content areas, with increasing numbers of students scoring at the ‘Proficient with Distinction’ level,” ADL Principal Laurie Singer said.

At Thomas Fleming School, 78 percent of students scored proficient or above in reading, and 73 percent scored proficient or above in math. “In reading and math, we have seen a noticeable shift of students moving from ‘Proficient’ to ‘Proficient with Distinction,’” Thomas Fleming Principal Daniel Ryan said.

Students at Hiawatha Elementary School and Summit Street School continued to perform above the state average.

At Hiawatha, 75 percent of students were proficient or above in reading, and 75 percent were proficient or above in math.  ”Although this is satisfactory, our staff will continue to adjust curriculum delivery and instructional interventions to improve the performance of all students,” Hiawatha Elementary School Principal Tom Bochanski said.

At Summit, 85 percent of students were proficient or above in reading, and 87 percent were proficient or above in math. “Our effort around the area of writing to help students include more details and  thinking has paid off,” Summit Street School Principal Mary Hughes said.

At Westford Elementary, 82 percent were proficient or above in reading, and 77 percent were proficient or above in math. “Westford School’s reading and math NECAP scores reflect a continued trend of high achievement for our students,” Westford School Principal David Wells said.  “We will continue to focus our attention on teaching all of our students the essential content, concepts, and skills in each subject.”

These results will be used for school improvement and accountability.  “In the weeks and months ahead, we will be examining the results to look at system-wide trends and individual student performance,” Deweese said.  “Our analysis of these results will help us better understand the relationship between teaching and learning, enabling us to sustain or adjust our instruction to continue our standard of high quality education.”

The Union #46 (U46) School Board, serving Essex High School (EHS) and the Center for Technology-Essex (CTE), announced a nominal increase in the high school’s budget and a likely decrease in CTE’s tuition rate.

The U#46 School Board is proposing an FY’11 EHS budget of $22,182,502, up 0.43 percent from FY’10.  At $500,000 lower than in FY’09, this budget sustains a lower level of expense.

Even with minor increases in the school budget throughout the years, EHS continues to demonstrate exceptional education quality.  On average, EHS students outperformed Vermont students in all subject areas of the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP), with a majority of students continuing with their education after high school.

“Our board is pleased to continue the trend of fiscal responsibility with an EHS budget increase of less than one half of a percent for next year after reducing the current budget 2.6 percent from last year,” said U#46 School Board Chair G Miller.

While CTE’s budget will increase 3.04 percent in FY’11 to $8,449,228, it is important to note the following factors contributed in maintaining a stable budget: though CTE expenses increased 3.04 percent, state revenues to CTE increased 4.12 percent, and, due to additional revenues for increased enrollment, the actual tuition charged may be lower than the FY’10 tuition by as much as $151.

The Informational Hearing for these budgets will be held on April 12 in the EHS Auditorium beginning at 7:45 p.m.  Voting will take place on April 13 (Essex Junction residents vote at the EHS Auditorium and Essex Town residents vote at Essex Middle School).

For additional information related to the U#46 School Board’s proposed FY’11 budget, including their budget presentation, click here.

(From the Office of Senator Bernie Sanders)

BURLINGTON, January 15 - Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) announced today that 10 Vermont public schools submitted winning proposals for solar energy projects and are in line for federal grants of $50,000 each.

“As our state and country move away from fossil fuels toward energy independence, young people are the ones with the most at stake in making smarter choices about alternative, renewable sources of energy,” Sanders said. “I’ve been very impressed by the great interest in this project shown by schools throughout the state.  The projects at the 10 Vermont schools that were selected will help students and the people in their communities learn more about solar energy and smart ways to get to a greener future.”

The schools were selected by a state panel put together by the State Department of Education from entries submitted as part of a statewide competition. The winning proposals will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy for final approval. The 10 Vermont schools are:

• The Edge Academy / Essex Middle School in Essex Junction.
• Woodstock Union Middle/High School in Woodstock.
• Bradford Elementary School in Bradford
• South Royalton School in South Royalton
• Crossett Brook Middle School in Duxbury
• Bellows Free Academy in St. Albans
• Sustainability Academy at Lawrence Barnes in Burlington
• Essex Community Education Center in Essex Junction
• Folsom Education and Community Center in South Hero
• Hazen Union School in Hardwick

The funding, secured by Sanders in a federal spending bill, will be used to purchase small-scale solar photovoltaic installations which will be for educational purposes. Schools were encouraged to submit creative proposals that engaged as many students as possible in developing hands-on scientific, technical, and other curricula involving the solar equipment.

“This program is a major step forward in moving our state toward a greener economy which relies more and more on sustainable energy,” Sanders said.

Senator Sanders is chairman of the Green Jobs and the New Economy Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.  He is also the only member of the Senate majority to serve on both the energy and environment committees.

The Vermont Department of Health (DOH) has rescheduled the H1N1 flu clinic for Hiawatha School students.  This H1N1 flu clinic (for the second dose of the vaccination) will be held Friday, January 15.

Please contact the school nurse with any questions regarding this clinic.  Additional resources related to H1N1 can be found at the school web-site: www.ccsuvt.org.

Westford School administration chose to close school today, December 17, in support of an active Vermont State Police investigation occurring on school property.  This investigation does not involve students or school employees.

School administration is in communication with Vermont State Police and will determine if it is appropriate to re-open school Friday, December 18.  A telephone message to families and employees concerning the status of school on Friday is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. this evening.

The Vermont Department of Health (DOH) has rescheduled the H1N1 flu clinic for Westford School students.  This H1N1 flu clinic (for the second dose of the vaccination) will be held Monday, December 21.

Only students who are under 10 years old will need a second immunization.  All preschool students will need to be brought in by a parent.  Parents interested in attending the clinic to support their child need to contact the school nurse to make arrangements.

Please contact the school nurses with any questions regarding this clinic.  Additional resources related to H1N1 can be found at the school web-site: www.ccsuvt.org.

Vermont Commissioner of Education Vilaseca recommended to the State Board of Education (SBE) to not adjust the boundary line of CCSU to include the Essex Town School District. The SBE upheld this recommendation at their meeting today.  As a result, the Essex Town School District will proceed with it’s superintendent’s search.

The Vermont Public Service Board (PSB) recently dismissed docket #7497 between Comcast  and the Regional Education Television Network (RETN).  The two organizations have signed a new five-year contract.

In a joint prepared statement, Comcast and RETN said they reached an agreement that “ensures quality educational access programming and related services will be provided to the towns of Burlington, Charlotte, Essex, Essex Junction, Ferrisburgh, Hinesburg, St. George, Shelburne, South Burlington, Vergennes, Waltham, Williston and Winooski.”

RETN works in collaboration with CCSU, providing quality educational access opportunities for students and staff.  In addition, RETN films regular Prudential Committee and U#46 School Board meetings.

Read the full story here (this link takes you to RETN’s press release).

The Vermont Department of Health (DOH) has rescheduled the H1N1 flu clinic for Essex High School (EHS) students.  This H1N1 flu clinic will be held Tuesday, December 22, 2009.

Only students who have signed up in advance to receive the vaccine from this clinic may participate.  Participating students must wear clothing that will allow easy access to their upper arm.  If a student has already received the vaccination, please contact the EHS Health Office at 879-5517.  Additional resources related to H1N1 can be found at the school web-site: www.ccsuvt.org.

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