Northeast CESA Takes Early Steps As District Merger Meetings To Begin

As Vermont’s sweeping education reform law continues to move from legislation to implementation, two of Act 170’s most significant initiatives are beginning to take shape in the Northeast Kingdom: the launch of the Northeast Cooperative Educational Service Agency and the start of a series of regional school district merger study committees.

The Northeast CESA board held its second meeting Wednesday, taking several preliminary steps toward becoming operational while committee members acknowledged that major organizational work remains ahead. Meanwhile, the first of three regional merger study committees created under Act 170 is expected to be held next week.

The CESA board, composed primarily of superintendents and assistant superintendents from member districts, unanimously approved requests from Hartford School District and SAU 70 in Norwich to withdraw from the Northeast CESA and pursue joining the Vermont Learning Collaborative, the southeastern Vermont CESA with which the districts already have established relationships. Board members offered little discussion before approving the requests. Heather Lawler, Superintendent of Orange East and the CESA board chair, noted that both the receiving and sending CESA must approve the move. The legislature will ultimately need to approve the switch, since CESA assignments were part of Act 170.

And now it’s time for your Moo92 sports…

In Hockey, the Boston Bruins will travel to Winnipeg to take on the Jets tonight. The Bruins coming off of their 3-0 home opening victory over the New York Rangers on Tuesday. Jeremy Swayman with 24 saves in the win for Boston. Puck drops tonight at 8pm.

And in local sports…

The North Country Boys soccer team will take on Lyndon today at 4 o’clock while the Lake Region boys will host Lamoille at 4pm.

The North Country girls soccer team will travel to Lyndon Saturday to take on the Vikings while the Lady Rangers of Lake Region will travel to Montpellier to battle U-32. Both soccer games tomorrow at 11am.

The North Country Varsity football team has another big test this weekend as they travel to Lyndon on Saturday to play the 3-1 Vikings. Kick off at 1pm.