NORTH BENNINGTON — The application to create the Village School of North Bennington is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday and expected to be a major step forward in replacing the public North Bennington Graded School with the independent Village School.

The application is on the agenda of the Vermont Board of Education for their Tuesday meeting in Montpelier.

Stephan Morse, chairman of the state board, said he didn’t expect there will be many questions left about the application so he thinks any presentation by the Vermont Department of Education will be brief.

Morse said he would be in favor of approving the creation of the school. By Vermont law, an independent school can’t be created unless it’s supported by the board of education.

“I know that not everyone agrees with it so I don’t know where it will go but personally I think it’s time for us to support it and be done with it,” he said.

Eva Sutton, one of the trustees for the Village School and a former member of the School Board in North Bennington, said she plans to attend the meeting with others who support the independent school, to answer any questions if necessary.

Sutton said she was optimistic the application would move forward because it has been recommended by the Department of Education and supported by the community in three separate votes.

For the complete story, see Friday's Rutland Herald.