Nov 30, 2017, Bennington (VT) Banner: SVSU draft budget up less than 1 percent http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/20171130/qampa-school-overcrowding-questions-at-abss-county-meeting At first glance, the budget appears set to increase 3.82 percent, or $924,837. However, the vast majority of this increase comes from the $728,480 that is shifting from local boards to the SVSU after the latest round of collective bargaining moved all paraeducators from being employees of the local boards to employees of the SU. No additional money is actually being spent, as the cost is simply shifting to the SVSU budget. Taking that into account, the real increase is $196,357, or 0.81 percent over this current year's budget. … Special education, including elementary, secondary, and OnPoint services, will increase by 0.18 percent, or $28,616. The largest line increase comes from transportation, which increased $119,307, in part due to the projected new contract and in part due to an increase in student out-of-district placement needs. "I feel like we're in a really good place to provide students with what they need," said Special Education Director Wendy Pierce. The curriculum department's budget would remain largely the same from this year, up only 0.11 percent, or $884.

Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.