Several municipal heating, ventilation and air conditioning projects on the Island that have ballooned in price recently, driven up as towns look to replace aging equipment but have no on-Island specialists to carry out such large jobs.
The Up-Island Regional School District holds its public hearing on the 2024 operating budget Thursday, with a roughly 5.6 per cent increase over the current fiscal year.
Bucking a statewide trend, the Vineyard public school system continues to grow, with 2,253 students enrolled across the Island on Oct. 1 compared to 2,191 a year earlier.
From a failing roof to inadequate, outdated energy systems, the West Tisbury School needs a complete overhaul, officials said Monday at a meeting of the up-Island school committee.
Whatever feelings the Island's children may have about returning to school next Tuesday, Sept. 6, their principals, teachers, coaches and other campus leaders are eager to welcome them back for a school year with a return of cherished traditions.
The two-year pandemic has hampered learning for the Island’s youngest school children, according to West Tisbury student data recently presented to the up-Island school committee.
With hugs, rainbow walkways and a horse, Vineyard children arrived for their first true first day of school in more than two years Wednesday, returning all together to classrooms across the Island.
Lauren Gray lives in Edgartown and ordinarily her title at work is education support staff for the sixth grade at the West Tisbury School.
Now she is The Lunch Runner.
“I take the lunch from inside the cafeteria to the cars outside when they come to pick up their lunch,” she said.
Pickup is everyday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at all the schools around the Island. Students can get both their breakfast and lunch during those hours, Ms. Gray added.
Team Lunch Ladies, a trio of Martha’s Vineyard cooks led by West Tisbury School chef Jenny DeVivo, are heading to the finals in The Great Food Truck Race.