Lola Duffort
Education/Youth ReporterLola is Vermont Public's education and youth reporter, covering schools, child care, the child protection system and anything that matters to kids and families. She's previously reported in Vermont, New Hampshire, Florida (where she grew up) and Canada (where she went to college).
Get in touch at lduffort@vermontpublic.org.
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Gov. Phil Scott warned that, absent intervention, property taxes could spike again next year. Scott’s letter — and reactions to it — have underlined how little agreement or trust exists between the parties involved in trying to solve the problem. -
The school board has once again trimmed its spending plans for the year, and scheduled a fourth budget vote for Sept. 17. Early voting has begun. -
With only 15 students when it closed, Windham is an extreme example. But the dynamics at play in this tiny southern Vermont town are nevertheless emblematic of widespread trends. -
For years, most schools in Vermont have had rules in place restricting student cellphone use in class. But this year, a handful of schools are taking their cues from a nationwide movement and going phone-free for the entire school day. -
A state law passed in 2021 requires all schools, public or private, built or renovated before 1980 to test for the toxic chemicals. For North Country superintendent Elaine Collins, the Newport school’s experience shows that lawmakers gave “zero thought” to “what might happen if we actually found PCBs in schools.” -
This major disaster declaration will allow homeowners and renters in Addison, Orleans, Washington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Lamoille and Essex counties to apply for help from FEMA. Municipalities in those counties will also be eligible for federal funding to repair public infrastructure. -
With few teaching candidates applying, especially in more rural districts, administrators are being forced to get creative — like walking the streets of Barre City to find applicants. -
Voters around Vermont trickled into polling places on primary election day with issues like climate change, housing, affordability and taxes top of mind. -
More than 24,000 Vermonters remained without power Saturday morning due to post-tropical cyclone Debby. -
The cash will be split evenly between an effort to purchase and site new mobile homes for low-income Vermonters and a grant program for businesses, farms and non-profits who pledge to reopen their doors and bring back employees.
