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by Amy Ash Nixon vtdigger.org Student retention and graduation rates, the cost of instruction, financial aid, student debt load, and job placement rates after graduation are measurements used in many states to link higher education dollars to performance-based funding. A higher education subcommittee put in place by the Legislature last session is beginning work on a performance-based funding proposal for Vermont which could affect funding for both the University of Vermont (UVM) and the Vermont State Colleges (VSC) system.

The committee is looking at how many students served are from Vermont, from low-income backgrounds, are the first in their families to attend college, and come from minority groups.

A proposal is due to the General Assembly and the governor by Dec. 15.

by Scott A Giles, VSAC Nobody likes to take tests, myself included. So it was with a fair amount of trepidation that I accepted to Secretary Holcombe’s invitation to take the new Smarter Balanced Assessments in April. My anxiety increased when I entered Montpelier High to discover we would be taking the 11th grade math assessments. Three of us had accepted the challenge and each suppressed visions of impending public humiliation like that reserved for adult contestants on “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?” So why did we agree to do this?

Vermont, like many states, is raising its educational standards to ensure that our children have the knowledge and skills to be active citizens and compete in the 21st century global economy. Our goal is to ensure that every child graduates from high school with the tools they need to successfully pursue education, training and career.

Vermont Business Magazine The Brewers Association of Denver, CO has calculated the Vermont has more breweries per capita than any state in the United States, and since the beginning of the year the Vermont Brewers Association has seen four new members: Hermit Thrush Brewery in Brattleboro, Frost Beer Works in Hinesburg, Bent Hill Brewing in Braintree, and J’ville Craft Brewery in Jacksonville. Expansions have occurred at Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, Zero Gravity Craft Brewery in Burlington, Von Trapp Brewing Co. in Stowe, and Stone Corral Brewery in Richmond. There are also a number of breweries in planning, and even if only a few of them were to open by the end of the year, this could make 2015 a year of unprecedented growth for artisanal beer in Vermont.

by Cyrus Patten, Campaign for Vermont There’s been much discussion this summer about the need for an ethics panel – an independent oversight body to address concerns about the ethical behavior of public officials. Although the idea was proposed by Campaign for Vermont back in 2013, it’s just now become a popular position. This is mostly likely due to a series of questions raised about potential conflicts of interest with the governor, lieutenant governor, and lawmakers. The increase in support may also be a result of an upcoming election when relationships become at least as important as money.

Vermont Business Magazine Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) today announced that the federal government designated the Mountain Valley Medical Clinic in Londonderry, Vermont as a new community health center site. The clinic will be part of the Springfield Medical Care Systems community health center network.

The $262,500 award will allow Mountain Valley Medical Clinic to provide primary care services to almost 3,800 new patients in ten rural communities, none of which are currently served by a Federally Qualified Heath Center. In all, the federal Department of Health and Human Services announced funding for 266 new health center sites around the country today to serve more than 1.2 million patients. The federal funds were authorized by a Sanders provision in the Affordable Care Act that made available $11 billion for community health centers.

Vermont Business Magazine Governor Peter Shumlin and officials at Vermont Health Connect (VHC) today announced that the change of circumstance functionality deployed at the end of May has allowed staff to reduce by more than half the backlog of customers waiting for changes to their health plans to be processed. The backlog currently stands below 4,500, down from over 10,200 at the end of May when the new functionality was deployed to allow VHC staff to process more quickly changes to customer accounts, such as a change in address, name, or income.

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont has received the highest grade in the nation in a report on school asthma and allergy health care. With schools across the United States soon to be, back in session, it's never too late – or too early – to ensure that students and faculty with asthma, food allergies and other allergic conditions remain safe. Today, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) unveiled its 2015 report, the State Honor Roll of Asthma and Allergy Policies for Schools. Fourteen states made-the-grade this year, with Connecticut tying Vermont for the top spot (21 points, Georgia was last with 7).

SEE VERMONT REPORT BELOW

The 19th Annual Rabies Bait Drop will take place (weather permitting) Aug. 11- 20 across nine Vermont counties, including all of Chittenden County, to help stop the spread of the potentially fatal viral disease.

Nine of the 11 animals that have tested positive for rabies so far in 2015 have been in Chittenden County, including five in Burlington.

“Police Departments in Chittenden County do a really good job of responding to reports of animals acting strangely and making sure the animal is trapped and tested,” said Robert Johnson, DVM, state public health veterinarian.

Baits will be dropped into rural parts of Vermont, primarily across the northern region along the Canadian border, from low-flying planes for five days. More than 450,000 baits will be dropped from Beechcraft twin-engine airplanes at an altitude of 500 feet along planned flight lines at a rate of about 91 baits per linear mile.

Vermont Business Magazine Fitch Ratings has assigned an 'AA' rating to the following Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) bonds. The bonds are general obligations of the agency and are secured by single-family mortgages, portions of multi-family loans, mortgage-backed securities (MBS), and certain cash and investments held under the resolution. The multiple purpose bond program rating does not rely on the general obligation pledge to maintain the 'AA' rating currently assigned to the bonds.

--$10.63 million VHFA multiple purpose bonds 2015 series F;

--$15.365 million VHFA multiple purpose bonds 2015 series G.

Additionally, Fitch has affirmed the ratings on approximately $209 million in parity debt (see full list at the end of this release).

The Rating Outlook on all bonds is Stable.

SECURITY

Vermont Business Magazine Vermont is one of the three top states in its legislative activity to reduce the incidence of cancer. Legislation that includes smoke-free public areas and laws against tanning booths are two of the methods states can employ to reduce the chance its citizens get cancer. But all states, including Vermont, could do more, according to a recently released national report. Indeed, a majority of states are not measuring up on legislative solutions that prevent and fight cancer, according to a report released by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). “How Do You Measure Up?: A Progress Report on State Legislative Activity to Reduce Cancer Incidence and Mortality” rates states on the strength of proven policies that help to prevent a disease that kills more than 1,600 people a day nationwide and will cost the country an estimated $216 billion in health care costs this year alone.

Vermont Business Magazine The Red Sox Foundation has announced that Sox fans from across Vermont have voted for the Brattleboro Retreat as the state’s favorite nonprofit and qualified the hospital to receive the Foundation’s IMPACT Award. The award will be presented during an on-field ceremony on Sunday, August 16^th, which is Vermont Day at Fenway Park.

As Vermont’s top vote getter, the Brattleboro Retreat will receive a $10,000 charitable contribution. In addition, a Retreat representative will be invited to promote the work of hospital from the NESN broadcast booth during Sunday afternoon’s game against the Seattle Mariners.

The oldest public health lab facility in the U.S., built in 1952 in Burlington, will close its doors at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13. The lab will be closed for business Friday Aug. 14 through Monday, Aug. 17.

The Health Department’s new laboratory at the Colchester Business and Technology Park (359 South Park Drive) will be open for business five days later, on Tuesday, Aug. 18.

Source: VDH 8.10.2015. For more information on West Nile virus, health news, alerts and information, visit healthvermont.gov.