Farm partners
Run to the top
Nordic Farm teams up with USDA, university
Girls’ cross country takes third straight title
Page 2
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Volume 53 Number 44
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shelburnenews.com
October 31, 2024
Falls Road improvements move forward
A Wonka good time
PATRICK BILOW STAFF WRITER
COURTESY PHOTO
Vermont Day School in Shelburne took part in the town’s annual Halloween parade Sunday, celebrating the theme of “Willy Wonka,” a play that older students will perform in January at Main Street Landing. See more photos on page 10.
The Shelburne Falls Road Working Group gave its recommendations on improving pedestrian conditions along Falls Road following a year-long community survey that ended last week. Since February 2023, the group has been looking at ways to improve Falls Road based on common complaints about the area for decades, including sidewalk gaps and poor sidewalk conditions, underutilized social space and fast-moving traffic. The project was inspired by residents’ desire to improve walking and bike connectivity and pedes-
trian safety throughout Shelburne, which was expressed as one of three priorities in last year’s community envisioning study known as Shelburne Forward Together. Susan Grasso, a Shelburne resident and employee with Local Motion, a statewide pedestrian advocacy group, presented data from the survey and recommendations to the selectboard on Oct. 22. Grasso has facilitated the Falls Road Working Group since its inception. The project included a demonstration of potential safety and beautification improvements. It See FALLS ROAD on page 12
School districts differ with changing student enrollment LIBERTY DARR STAFF WRITER
Two neighboring school districts in Chittenden County — Champlain Valley School District and South Burlington School District — have seen conflicting
enrollment trends over the last five years. According to a state education profile report published by the Agency of Education in August, total enrollment in Vermont public schools — including pre-kindergarten through 12th
grade — has steadily declined between 2003 and 2023 by a little over 6 percent. The decline in kindergarten through 12th grade during that same period was nearly 14 percent, although much of this change occurred pre-pandemic.
Schools in the Champlain Valley School District — the state’s largest district — have kept on par with the statewide trend with total enrollment declining nearly 7 percent between 2019 and 2024, according to data provided by the
district. Most notable is Hinesburg Community School, where enrollments in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade dropped more than 11 percent during that timeSee ENROLLMENT on page 16
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