Letter: Vernon Board Chair 'Proud of Our School System'

To the Editor:

Rockville High School just hosted its 25th Annual Festival of Bands. It was a glorious

Fall evening. Fifteen bands from all over the state competed. You could not sit in the
stands, watching them working together and creating beautiful music, and not be
overwhelmed with pride.

These kids are our future and they are wonderful.

Vernon can be proud of our educational system and the progress that these students
have made over the past two years:

• SAT scores have increased by 108 points.
• This year, 224 students earned college credits at RHS.
• 63 percent of the 2017 graduates received college credit.
• 74 students won creative writing awards, more than any other high school in the state.
• Over the past two years, 76 percent of graduates went on to higher education.
• Test scores show that the growth of our elementary school students has increased by a higher percentage than the state’s percentage increase (8 percent in Math, fourth out of 156 districts and 5 percent in English Language Arts, seventh out of 156 districts).

• RHS has been identified as a Unified Champion Banner School – a national award, sponsored by Special Olympics.

• Over $8 million in grant and local funds have been invested in facility improvements including roof replacements, athletic facility upgrades, and ADA compliant playscapes.

• Parking lots have been expanded and repaved and HVAC improvements have been completed.
• Vernon was awarded a $650,000 grant for school security upgrades and a $377,000 grant to engage families and the community in our educational system.

All this has been accomplished with minimal budget increases (about 1 percent). Our success is due to the cooperative and collaborative attitude of members of the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Schools, the teaching staff, the Town Council, Mayor Champagne, and most of all, wonderful young people and supportive parents.

I am proud of our school system and you should be too.

Anne H. Fischer
Chairman, Vernon Board of Education

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