White River Valley Supervisory Union - August 25, 2026 [WVRSU]

Call to order 5:33. Are there any adjustments to the agenda? I'll approve the minutes of Tuesday, June 16th. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Hearing none, the minutes are approved. Or correspondence communications? Um public comment? >> All right, don't put anything more in my mouth. >> All right, you're up. I get to eat now. >> All right, so um you have my superintendent report. It was a great opportunity to reflect on the work that has occurred across the SU this summer both in regards to uh strengthening, I think, our our our foundation for instruction, but also uh strengthening our infrastructure across the SU. And so we had a great deal of capital uh improvement work that occurred this summer. Uh a little but right around 10 million or a little over 10 million in uh well, it's over 10 million when you total up all the districts, probably pushing 11 million uh in regards to improvements to our facilities. Um and you're sitting in one of those uh facilities tonight at the Sharon Elementary School. And just a huge shout-out to all of our staff, our faculty, our administration, um and to the contractors, both local and from afar, that have uh supported all this work. You're good, buddy. Oh, you got one? Um to ensure that our kids have uh the best facilities that are local communities and taxpayers can provide. Um to really set a tone in regards to that, we want to create a professional um and high-quality learning experience. And the facility, I've always believed when you first walk up to the entryway, needs to set a tone around high expectations and a professional setting. And so, I think we've done a lot of work to uh increase uh that setting for all of our students in our schools. And the work doesn't ever stop. We're continuing some work moving forward. Like when we wrap up projects with Sharon and the White River Unified District of Bethel and Royalton, we are headed to Rochester Stockbridge to do a window replacement there. Um and I'm pleased I don't know if at the Rochester Stockbridge board members saw, there are some bleachers that are going to be going into the Rochester school that we were able to use from the Royalton campus, which is really exciting. >> So, they were going to get just >> junked and they were going to fit in there perfectly. So, yeah. So, uh great news there. And um we're going to hopefully release your VT Cap results to you in November. Um October if it get the embargo gets lifted earlier. Um we've been able to take a look at some of those results internally. The embargo's there, so I can't go into detail. I think you're going to be uh pleased with uh some of the district, but also the SU-wide results in regards to uh student achievement as demonstrated via that VT Cap uh last spring. Uh so, there will be some highlights there for us to celebrate. In regards to goal two, this hits on our work around community schools and there's a lot of a lot of things that have occurred across the SU, I think, to improve um our schools in regards to becoming uh really hubs for our communities. Um I noted again, I mean, if you haven't had the chance, please take a look out at the playground here in Sharon in regards to the work that was done by the district board. I think you're going to see that my sense is not only is that going to serve serve kids and families from the Sharon's uh town school district, I think we'll have students from the across the SU probably accessing that playground. It's it's pretty amazing. Um and uh we also have 62,000, there was actually a little over 62,000 meals provided to families across our SU this summer from our food service staff. Um that that went home to kids and again, if people ask you, I want you to be armed to say that every one of those meals was federally reimbursed and the summer meal program is a revenue generator for us, okay? That provides revenue for us to then reinvest in in our food service program throughout the school year. Um that is not costing any of our local taxpayers in regards to us having to supplement that program. That program actually supplements our school year program. I wanted to just highlight uh to just give you a real picture of what we talk about with community schools. First Branch schools um hosted what they called uh forest days on Thursday mornings. Uh the First Branch principals and some of the staff went to um some housing complexes where we have over 20 students who attend First Branch schools and also attend the Rudd schools via school choice and provided things like recreational activities for kids and also swimming lessons right there behind the the complex. And so, I want to give you that picture with that to you start to have some highlights when we talk about community schools what that actually means and what we're trying to do. Um and so, that was really exciting. Um and then finally, you know, um just a really great event. Some of you were able to attend. If you weren't able to attend this year, I hope that you consider attending next year for our first annual WRVSU Beach Day. It was a complete success. Um you know, we had we I think we fed what about 120 people from all over the country. Not necessarily just from RSU. But they thought it was really cool that RSU did something like this. And we opened it up to the beach. That's the way we are. Um and um it just uh the families that were able to attend and connect with each other, it just it was a really great day. It's one of those days when you drive home, you say, "This is why I'm in the business of this work." And so, huge shout out to all of those that volunteered, certainly to Mary Shell and Bonnie Wheeler, um and to Aubuchon's Hardware that donated the grills and all the uh food that day in regards to the meats and veggie burgers and things. >> And Jamie Jesse Bessette here, I'll just chime in. It was a wonderful day. The attendance was was fantastic. Again, shout out to Mary Shell, the organization of the day was was awesome. It was a really impressive outing. So, thank >> Thanks, Jesse. Um and then finally, um just want and we'll do updates later. Uh Chair Root and I did go to an RSCA strategic meeting. We'll talk about that later. Eric Lopez has attended the first uh Cooperative Educational Service Area meeting. We'll talk about that in a few. I will give you an update on what I know currently right now on my own merger study committees. Um and I'll take any questions folks may have. Otherwise, if you haven't signed up yet to volunteer at the WRVSU Tunbridge Fair booth, please consider. Mary Shell did put out that sign up. I'll have her push that back out again tomorrow. We will be there again. Um and you should have your WRVSU newsletter the summer newsletter kicking off the FY27 school year arriving in your mailboxes very soon. And just to really, you know, sum it up, we really are operating now year round. Like you have activities happening in your buildings essentially year round. We are not just open during the 180 student days. We really are operating year round. So, thanks to all the our our folks that make that possible. >> Any questions for Jamie? All right, I'm going to >> What? >> You're up next. >> Okay, thank you. Um so, you know, similar things as to what Jamie reported on just uh just highlight a couple of additional things. Um this summer we had some teacher leaders working on a couple different projects to help move some of our systems forward. Uh on my report there, I screenshotted um a piece that was done around sort of the big ideas in our content areas um to help we we've got our our proficiencies, we have our priority performance indicators, and um you're a new teacher coming into our schools and you're teaching math and ELA and science and global studies and you're just trying to get your head around it just um some more clear ways to help document you know, document here like here are the big ideas of what you want to be covering. Um and then these are fleshed out um in other places as well. Uh, we'll have some teachers actually digging into this the science one tomorrow. As you all are aware, we've done a lot of work around literacy, we've done a lot of work around math in the last couple of years in the K-8 space. Um, and so, you know, as we kind of cycle through all of the content areas, uh, science and global studies are the things that will start coming up, too. We'll start to lay the groundwork now to to do a deeper dive on those just to make sure that our kids are getting all of the different content areas. So, that was some good work. There was also some work done, uh, around how to further utilize Edulimber, um, for more of the data and the information we have about students. So, it continues to be what we want it to be, which is a way one way of sort of holistically representing our kids when we have conversations about, you know, what what needs do they have? What are their successes? So, the more that we can build into it, the more that it can capture sort of more data about our kids. So, that was some good work that was done over the summer. Um, Jim talked about about the summer programming that went on. Um, that was really helped, well, it was mostly helped by the people who followed, you know, who work and do these things every single day and and think of them, um, and then make them happen. Um, and then we had a a grant that helped support some of it, the Stronger Connections grant, which does end in the end of September and we'll be sad to see it go because it has helped with, uh, a bunch of things like that, but there's always new things on the horizon, so hopefully we'll find something else to, um, help keep funding, uh, the great ideas that our, uh, colleagues and staff have. Um, and then the last is, you know, last year at this time we were talking about attendance, um, and how important it was for our kids to be in school, uh, as many days as possible, connecting with friends, learning, um, reviewing, practicing, doing all those things and it had, uh, I think a really remarkable impact on, um, uh, kid daily attendance. Just the fact that we started talking about it in the summer and then consistently talked about it all year long. So, uh, we're going to take a, um, that same position on on reading this year and really think about how do we ensure that our from our youngest to all the way through our our kids who are in the uh, AB DP program in the high school, uh, have the skills they need to be great readers, um, and so we will launch that tomorrow with our staff, uh, and then we have some opportunities to watch this, um, hope build elementary, uh, in our different communities over the next 2 weeks so we're hoping you join us, but uh, most importantly just keep talking about reading and how Sorry, that reading happens in all sorts of ways. It can be It can be a menu. It can be graphic novel. It can be anything you see, but um, it's important that our kids, uh, see us reading and see the importance of That's going to be one of our big focuses for this year. >> Thank you, Anda. Any questions for Anda, guys? All right, very good. You are up. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um, so I just took a moment as, um, Superintendent Carney said to reflect back on the summer. It was a very special summer. Um, there was a lot of work done in order to help our teachers and our students be ready for the first day. Um, when we were closing out last school year, several teams from around the SU went to the best conference and representatives from many of those teams went to a learning session with Dr. Shelly Moore who's renowned for, um, universally designed instruction, for creating access points that are reachable for a variety of learners, um, in the curriculum. And we were really struck by her learning, had some great takeaways so that formed the basis of a lot of our summer work and we'll be introducing that to some staff tomorrow and it is the basis of something that, um, Michaela Martin has created in collaboration with some teachers to create a new kind of flexible pathway for a social studies global studies credit, which will be a cross-grade across campus collaboration. So Waterman students will be collaborating with some students from Southboro Elementary. So we're really excited that that learning has already translated into something tangible for our students. Um Um the nitty-gritty special ed side Every year we have to give a document like this to families, the procedural rules, the safeguards, the the parental rights document. I don't know of anybody who reads it. Nobody reads it all the time. So just in feeling phone calls, from getting questions from community members, from parents, from even some special educators, I thought this should be more family-friendly. So we now have the Caregiver's Guide to Special Education, which we developed this summer and will go out along with the official document. And I started to have some conversations about how we can develop that into a family night and have some you know question and answer sessions that more people can come to. I have received several good questions from families asking what what path is appropriate for my child. Are we facing an evaluation? Are we looking at some kind of intervention support? And this will just kind of explain what those different pathways offer for them. >> That's awesome. One one of the biggest things you hear is people just don't understand how to navigate the system. >> Yeah. >> They don't know what's there. >> Yeah, so this will kind of lay out what what those steps are and when you might decide that this is the path that's that's right for us. >> Great. >> Um and then finally, just a staffing update for you all. Um we're fully staffed with in-person special educators. We were lucky to have so many returning Um and who are really dedicated to the work that we do here. We're still looking for speech pathologists and OTs, occupational therapists. Unfortunately, how it runs in Vermont typically is those are travelers. So, you have to catch them as they come through. Um we have enough to cover services, so there's not going to be a loss and gap in the services that we're committed to provide. Of course, we would like to be fully staffed with those. Um the good news on that side though is when I have interviewed people, they love hearing about the work we do and that's the strong MTSS that we have and they can be a part of it. They don't come to us because of housing problems, so that's the trade-off. Um but when I interview people, they have heard positive things about us. So, I I'm just keep pushing that and um pushing the fact that maybe they'll run into Noah Kahan if they come here. Somebody asked they would run into I was like, "I don't think you're going to see him." >> I have an in there, so you might want to use it. >> We might Yeah, we might be able to do seals deal. >> Might be able to get a chance encounter. >> Well, you could use that. I'm not guaranteeing that you would. >> I'll say I will enter you into a lottery. Um and any questions? >> Yeah, I just I know what for OT over the summer we kind of had a gap or we going to be able to cover OT services starting the year or still >> Yep, and we did have summer OT. We contracted with a local agency to provide the services that were recommended through the IEP process. >> Okay. >> Um so, all OT and speech services were covered this summer that had been recommended. >> Not all of them. >> Oh. >> Ours Ours were. >> If there's a concern, then let me know. >> I just want to make sure they have coverage for >> Yeah, I'll connect you with them. >> um and then for the year, yes, we we do have um people lined up and assigned to each other. >> Awesome. So the uh first it definitely shout out for that 62,000 mills. You know, that that is that's huge. Um so um also yeah, the uh the the added uh SOP um and the uh MPSS, you know, is that do we see that as reducing maybe the uh need for in um uh intensive services? >> And do you see that? Um compared to where I came from before, we have fewer students on what we call speech only IEPs. So those are students who are found eligible at a younger age just because they have an articulation or a language disorder that should be addressed through therapy. And because we're able to provide those services through the MTSS, >> That's great. >> they don't wind up on an IEP. >> Okay. So that also could be a flex and savings. >> All right, any other question, Bill? >> All right, uh we're back I was so pleased to read about your creation of a flexible pathway social studies course. >> That's all credit to Michaela. >> I've been teaching social studies for years and done a textbook and all that sort of stuff. So I don't want to beat that drum, but could you tell us a little bit more about where that's headed? >> Well, that is all credit to Michaela. Um Michaela, do you mind speaking? >> Sure. Um so we um are um collaborating with um the Cemetery Commission in South Burlington um around how we can help support um maintenance, but also create a course um called Stones and Bones um around this idea of how do we teach history through our cemeteries, our local cemetery, and um working in collaboration with an elementary school class to build that mentorship component. Um so, I've been working with Lindy um Stetson around this uh she's a social studies high school teacher, so we've been working together to develop this idea of how do we get kids in the community learning about the history um that that they will learn through inquiry. So, we're really excited about that to have that as a pathway. >> That's great. Thank you. >> All right. Any other questions? Chris, you're up. >> Wow. First one. >> First one. >> So, I think I'll start off by saying if you if for the folks that were there at my interview in January, I said I really wanted to to get the job to join the best SU in Vermont. And I maybe some of you thought I was just saying that, but if you could tell from Superintendent Canales' report, Director Adams, and Director Mortensen, and Martin, it's so true. I've been I've been blown away by the professionalism, the teamwork, the passion, the energy, and I'm just so thankful that you guys chose me, and that I'm part of this SU. It's been a crazy summer. Now, listen, I've been going to bed at like 8:00 cuz I'm so tired, but that's awesome. I love every day. Every day I get up and I'm excited to come to work. I'm excited to be part of what we are what you have built and building and continuing to improve. Um you can see in my report all the other stuff that I did, but whatever. I love it, and I love doing it for you, and I promise that I will bring energy and passion every day to you folks to keep uh making us the best we can be. Um I'm absolutely happy to take questions, comments, concerns, clarifications, whatever, but um I I try I didn't try to I try I I worried you guys gave a little too sappy in my report, but I just I really wanted to express how thankful and how amazing it is here and how lucky I know I am to be here. And that goes for everybody. I've been welcomed super warm by not only my colleagues, but by the principals and the staff and everyone I've met has has had a smile on their face, pretty much. Um so um it's I think it's been a super successful summer and I'm I cannot wait to see what the next 10 months brings in and even longer. So, with that, um like I said, we have a busy summer, we have a super busy fall. Uh I've got to know these buildings inside and out, which has been awesome. But I'm happy to take questions or comments or clarifications or, you know, shoot shoot away. I'm happy to um I'm happy to tackle whatever you're set on your mind. >> Welcome. We're glad to have you. >> Yeah, welcome. >> Thank you. Thank you all. >> I mean, I would actually echo the the thanks for being here. You've been a super help this summer. Projects Chris has been very helpful with the content and everything. >> Thank you. >> Definitely appreciate the energy. >> Oh, I have that. So, so some nights it may be a little much, tap me down, but I do I love this work. So, thank you. >> Eric. >> I just I want to um I think it's So, it in the report, the first reminder in the report is the fact that um we will be asked just to let people know for our stipends or yearly stipends. And I wanted to point to that um because um some of us, and this is not a pressure on anybody, but some of us refuse the stipend. Um and I just wanted to have let everybody know that that was available to them. Um if they did not wish to take the stipend, that they are able to do so. It doesn't change our relationship to the different boards. It is just a way a different way for us to give back to the schools. >> Thank you, Eric. >> Thanks, Eric. Um I guess before I conclude, I would just uh in my second page as Eric pointed out, I I I could go on and on with the thanks, but Christie White, Lisa Belair, Lori Rogers, uh Johanna Snelling, Ellen Blanchard, Missy Weisha Johnson, who the superintendent talked about with the summer school program, um summer food service program, and all of the head custodians have been phenomenal to work with. It's It's very refreshing to to work with professionals who enjoy their jobs and take them as seriously as as I do. It's It's not common throughout the state to have those kind of folks around that we have in here. So, it's been a very nice transition, very refreshing. So, I'd be I would be It would be terrible if I didn't make point out that these folks have are awesome and I have relied on them quite a bit this summer. So. >> All right. Any other questions for Chris? You guys behaving down there? All right. >> Yeah, trash in the new building. Yeah. All right. >> You're welcome. All right. >> Ray is helping set up in the back room, and you know, for being the communications director, I miscommunicated and he thought he didn't have to do a report this month cuz he heard me talking about Chris and I would meet to go over his report, and he thought he didn't have to do one. So, there's no written report. What I would say is is that I feel really good um in regards to us with all the work that's gone on, including this building, the technology is going to be ready to rock and roll on Monday. Um and I think we continue to work to improve the use of Edgenuity Climber in regards to technology and working with Onda. Um and we are We've created a task force across the SU that is going to be made up of some teachers, uh Anda, myself. We're going to bring in some expertise, look at other districts who have done a really good job of outlining um expectations in regards to AI so that we have a really good handbook that we can use across the SU in regards to AI. Um the agency provided some guidance that at times like when you say that it contradicted itself even a little bit? >> I think there's some of that going on. >> Yeah, so we just we've decided that we've got some other uh neighboring districts who have already launched into some of this work. We have some teachers who are passionate about it. So just know that we will continue to update you on that work as it's going, but I just wanted you to know that we are digging into that. Um and so otherwise, um you know, in regards to uh communications, we did streamline that reminding you in regards to the budget process last process last year. Mary Shell has taken in the lead as regards to our communications coordinator. There was a lot of work Mary Shell was doing in regards to the the community school coordinator that aligned to communication. So Ray and Mary are working very closely together now in regards to communication work to better streamline some of that. Um and so if you have any questions in that department, I'll try to entertain them. And if I can't answer it, Parker's here too, which tends to be Ray's right-hand person, so. >> Any questions, anyone? All right. Policy Committee, um we had a meeting tonight. We're working on a couple new policies that are going to come up and a we passed a procedure. Um we also have on tonight we have um policy B8 electronic communications between employee and students. This is the second reading. Does anybody have any changes, discussions, any of your boards talked about it? If you have changes or anything, please email Jamie or one of the policy committee members so we can make sure that comes to the policy committee. But, um, we'll be back next month for final reading. >> Yeah, hopefully take it, uh, action on that route, on that policy next month. >> So, that one will be back for final reading. On policy B 35, use of social media, and we're also on the second reading of that one along with B B8. So, take a look. They'll be back for approval next month. All right. >> Just so the board's clear, B8 is a required policy that we never had on the books, um, that we need to get on the books as we were doing policy review. And then B35 you've had on the books. This is a revision to align to B8, but also align in regards to, I don't know if board members remember 2 years ago the legislature took new legislation on the use of social media in regards to how employees can use social media in regards to communication with students. So, there's a Our policy was pretty already in alignment with the intent of that law, but there was a couple tweaks here to make certain we were in full compliance with the statute. So, that's what really the revisions were to B35. All right. Any questions for policy committee? >> We're rocking and rolling. It's a good good committee. Really solid committee. >> All right. Um, so we are on to the Unizu Valley Cooperative Educational Services C-saw update from Eric Lopez. >> So, I will start by asking you all to remember where you were on July 29th of this year and whether you felt the earth shake as the first meeting of the CESA for our um region was held. Um because it was so incredibly momentous that I am sure everybody felt the earth shake. No, seriously, I um we had our first meeting on July 29th. It was it was an interesting meeting. Um I was a data point and sole data point. I am the sole member of the uh CESA board who is not um an educator in one shape or another from the sending uh district. Um that is neither good nor bad, it is a data point. Um the group is comprised of some individuals that seem to be incredibly operations oriented, so that seems to be a a good thing as well as a a few people who are sort of uh looking at the world from a higher point of view. So, I think that that combination will be helpful in the future. Uh a couple of things that I think are important for this board to know. First, there is a chair, Michael Yeah, so was it like leader? I can't say his last last name, but um Jamie knows he is he is superintendent from one of the districts up north. He's our chair. We did not um elect an individual to be our uh treasurer. I think that there was a little bit of a misunderstanding as to sort of what the role of a treasurer is and um some individuals who were very operational were talking about, you know, getting uh tax numbers and the like, and other people were like, "No, hold on a second, that's not what the CESA or the treasurer does." So, there's more to come on that. Um uh we designated the third, what is it? The the fourth Monday of every third month uh starting October 26th, which will be our next meeting for our regular meetings cuz there only needs to be four per year. Um and we designated the Berry School District as um their website as the place um where notice will be utilized as well as the um Town Crier uh Argus. There was a a bylaws committee formed. That bylaws committee will be meeting um uh later this week. I am a member of the bylaws committee. Um so whether or not we're worse, you you all get to decide. Um and then there was some discussion about how we move forward. And to be clear, there is not a lot of clarity um frankly as to um what it is that what steps we ought to be taking, what what ought to be our priorities moving forward. One of the things that is um somewhat clear is that we are going to have to rely uh incredibly a lot um on the work that's going to be done by the cons you know, the the study committees because some of the data that comes from the study committees ought to be informing the um the efficiencies that can be gained by virtue of all of us working um together. Um Uh so all this to say, uh I will keep you apprised as things change. It It There is an incredible desire at least for me to move really quickly, but at the same time, I I sort of feel like we need to start um start right uh and we will we'll we'll be mindful of that balance moving forward. Happy to take any questions. >> I don't have a question, but I have a comment um that's sort of came up in the um WRCA meeting earlier was around um and I think you and I have talked about this already before, but um Um, instead of coming you you said, you know, you wanted to know what our needs were. And then um, we thought that it and was agreement with RSCA was that uh, to come from a this is what we have to offer position rather than this is what we need um, would be easier to then say, "Oh great, then you know, we could we could use some of that over there and we have you know, something like that." Um, might be more helpful than a you know, this so you you have a need but you don't know where to go with it or you know, whatever. So I just throw that out to you um, as a conversation that the RSCA had. >> Thank you. I um, it is not clear yet how that will work through especially given that if I'm not mistaken the law requires us to do a needs a needs assessment of sort. Um, so uh, all I want to make sure is that we're not duplicating the efforts of um, the the work that's going to happen with the study committee because at some point I think superintendents and administration will say, "Enough. We're getting data requests from 15 different places and that's not helpful." >> Mhm. >> All right, thank you Eric. Any other questions for Eric? Thanks for doing this committee Eric. >> And Eric, the next one is on maybe you mentioned this I almost forgot did you let the board know? >> Yeah, October 26th. October 26th at 3:00 p.m. will be the next regular meeting. Um, there is a bylaws committee meeting um, later this week. I I have the date I just don't have it with me. >> And these are open meetings so if board members have interest feel free to so let me know and I'll make certain that we get you the link. >> Thanks. >> All right. So, merger study committee process updates. >> Um so, tonight you're going to see a on your agenda a warning to take action to appoint a member to the merger study committee. Now, the act uh 170 references appointing at least a board member to the merger study committee, but then it references old act 46 language around that the the membership of each participating um district in um a study committee um needs to be based in regards to it taken into account average daily membership. Um we don't use average daily membership anymore. Uh we use use long-term weighted average daily membership. And we have not been provided any guidance at it to this point from the agency of Ed in regards to what those breakdowns would be in regards to merger study committees, okay? And so, um at tonight I, based on review with legal and just having no other further um information provided, I'm just asking that you all appoint a member to the study committee. Okay, at this point in time, Rod, I'm going to recommend you appoint a member and an alternate in the event that they decide that you need to have a second member. Now, there could be other districts that decide to have a second member. I saw a preliminary breakdown, and the only districts I saw based on current long-term weighted average daily membership based on preliminary work that came out of the frankly a a task force that was uh created just to start to analyze this data. Um that was not official at all. Had it that based on amounts looking like White River Unified District would have two members in the First Branch Unified District might have two members. But again, that's preliminary. Right now, all I have is that the lead facilitator said appoint a member by September 15th. So, then if everyone appoints a member for tonight till we get further guidance, that makes sense. Um I also want district boards um to just remember that if you did not want to participate in the merger study committee with your fellow board members of White River Valley Supervisory Union and you wanted to try to move to a different merger study committee that we should be taking action on that next month. Um so, you might say, "Well, what does that mean, Jamie?" It would be as an example, Sharon saying "I don't think uh being in a merger study committee for a Unified Union School District makes sense for us to continue to work with the districts here and and OSSD and Echo Valley, which is what our current merger study committee is in regards to recommendation statute. We would prefer to go south and look at a Unified Union School District with Hartford and Woodstock and Windsor." There is a way for you to appeal and request to join a different merger study committee. I need to remind everyone these are Unified Union School District study committees. So, you're not talking about whether or not you're going to merge with like operators, you're not talking about whether you're going to stay in an SU. These are merger study committees of operating districts K through 12. So, what you're going to be studying is is a operating K-12 district of the WRBSU, OSSD, which is currently a K-12 operator that serves Braintree, Brookfield, and Randolph, and Echo Valley, which is a currently a K-8 operator of Orange and Washington. So, that is the study process that we are going to go through. Now, it does not mean that as a merger study committee, that if you go through the process in good faith, I want to remind you that good faith is all about construction. All right, that is the key to good faith. I I got to be I just I think that as your superintendent, I want to point that out in the law. That the good faith definition is all about future construction. All right, or possibly construction aid, for example, what we just did in Sharon, if you were to decide to merge into a unified district. Um >> So, that means we'd have one high school in all of those. Is that what that means? >> Well, there is two high schools currently in all of those with your current in regards to what our current operators are. >> Okay. >> The the merger study committee needs to have done all this work and issued a report by next September. So, this is a tight timeline, okay? Um the merger study committee, as they study, it can vote to issue a report that says this is not viable and lists all the reasons why. I would also again say to you, I think that if you were to do that as part of that study committee, it would be advisable for you to think about why you're issuing a report if you said it was not advisable, of here other options that you might explore locally. And there was a lot of discussion that Sarah and I had at the RSCA about your If if going to engage in this work, you ought to take the opportunity while you have a facilitator and while we're doing the work to see are there any strategic mergers you might want to consider? You can issue it in a report. It doesn't mean that you're even going to pursue it, right? It just says, but these are other things that these districts could look to in the future. Okay, and while I had you all on tonight, I wanted to say that I'm going to continue to say that to you because um I just think if if if you're all going to get mandated to come together and you're going to do a study that it would be hopefully helpful that we take that opportunity if we're doing that work to also see is there anything locally that you might want to recommend? And again, the recommendation is in the report. It doesn't bind anyone to do anything. Is anyone following what I'm >> Yes. >> Well, what do you mean we can't say no? >> Say no. >> That that we don't have to follow it. Like if if >> A report says as an example, they may say cuz Echo Valley and First Branch have already talked about sharing some sports teams this fall. And they're K8 operators and Chelsea sits in the middle of um those two districts and they're like operators. They have two K4 unified elementary schools and they each have a 58. The report could say First Branch and Echo Valley may want to continue to study whether that type of that whether that merger of like operating districts makes sense for them. And you just put that in the report. Those two boards would then have to take action to create a study committee. >> Jamie, in the context Um it is true that if anything that the study committee comes up with, let's say it says yes that we're all going to merge together into a K through 12 um school district, but each of the towns in the that have to vote to agree to that. Is that correct? >> Each of the districts. >> Districts, okay. >> Right. And so, I just differentiate that to say we have seven unified districts in some um town districts. Those votes would be co-mingled. So, as an example, within the that, if that was to happen, every one of the districts would have to approve it. So, White River Unified District, that would be a district-wide vote, not just Bethel would. district, right. >> And if a town says no, then they're not part of the district. >> says no, the entire thing stops. >> For everybody? >> For everybody. >> But this is our voters. This is not >> This is your voters. Yeah. Yeah, this is if any one of those districts says no, then the no one gets to get married. It's just like it was in Act 46, right? We had lots of times where different operated different town districts voted no at different times. Even two might have said yes, one didn't. The two didn't get to marry, right? The whole thing stopped. >> So, what's the risk if we don't? Like, you know, if you don't take the suggestion. >> I don't think there's any risk. I I would actually I would argue that the risk politically is that if every study committee just says no and doesn't offer anything, then the risk then is that the Montpelier will say you couldn't do it, we'll do it for you. >> So, on the other hand, if there's a suggestion put into a a report of efficiency that a district or like district found, is it staying in a mandate that that happen? >> It's just a It's just a report. >> It's just a recommendation. That's what I was wondering. >> Um actually, just so we're clear, if you as a merger study committee recommended merging to a unified union school district, that is as not even mandated that vote would would go forward. It still needs approval of the agency and state board. Okay. >> Is it assumed, people have asked me, is all of this still in place if we have a different governor? >> What is in law? So, yeah, I mean, it would require the legislature to then take action. >> And presumably they would >> to Yeah, to strike it. They could do a strike law and act all both Act 170 and Act 73. But it is in law. >> Just to make sure I was following this whole debate. For the district, uh, such as Rutland, uh, the two towns, we're counting by the vote of the total population of both towns. It's not Bethel said yes, Rutland said no. >> Right. It's It's written by the district. >> Yeah. But when it comes down to the voter, it's not a poll. >> Yeah. Okay. For that, when you are in a unified district, so First Branch, ARSD, JUHD, RUHD, it's the district. Cuz you're now talking about merging another unified district with another unified district. I also think it's important, just so we you all are clear, you operating RUHD operates in a unified union school district, which means they are K-12 operators. When we talk about Rochester Stockbridge Unified District, it's not unified union, it's unified district because they are partial operators. So, I That is important term because I think it's important to to Cuz people will know that some of us have K-8 unified school districts that are partial operators. So, people could think that you might be studying in these study committees possibly becoming a partial operator. That is not what the law says. The law is very explicit that it's unified union school district K-12 operators. >> I declare >> on that, you said the team is in the construction aid in terms of um >> Good faith. >> Good faith effort, right? So, you're saying if we don't put in good faith effort, then those districts might not be considered for construction aid? >> That is what it speaks to. Yeah, so what it speaks to is the the facilitator that we will eventually that will be hired by the lead facilitator, which I've been told that those will all will be hired by the end of next week is what the lead facilitator has indicated, is that they will then be the determiners. They will determine whether or not the participating board members that you all appoint tonight act in good faith. And if they say that you do not act in good faith, the state board is supposed to create criteria that helps measure whether or not that claim is actually accurate or not. So, there is kind of that appeal There's a hearing and like appeal process. And it goes to the secretary of ed. I'm assuming that that's who it goes to. >> And in terms of the construction aid though, there's nothing in the law that actually generates funds. >> There's zero revenue generator in this. >> So, there's not really any construction aid. >> As of right now, there's not. >> So, they're potentially not getting the not aid. >> Something that our lawyer had talked to you about is not getting any neutral if we would decide we were going to get But I do think that when we when Montpelier goes back to session, there's still going to be a push to figure out something on saving tax dollars. So, it I think it behooves us to do a good job with the study committee so that they I think know we did our due diligence. Because Yeah. >> So, just so I'm clear in my understanding, the merger study committee that we are going to be appointing a member to is only studying a unified um union school district with the other to create one with the other two um That's the uh >> Yeah, all of our current districts. >> all of our our current districts. >> OSSD and Echo Valley. >> Okay, to create that that's all they're saying. >> Unless someone petitions to join that merger study. Uh which I have heard Linking has considered. >> Okay. >> And that has that petition has to be done before they meet in the first meeting, right? >> So that's why I said, if you wanted to do that, we should really take action on that during your September meeting. >> Yes. And so though that's the only thing we're studying if they're studying merger study if it behooves us to think of other efficiencies should this not be the right option. >> Smaller moves within the >> Right. >> I'm recommending that. I mean, here's what I mean, I'll say, a challenge to that could be is that we get a facilitator that doesn't think that aligns with the heart of the law. >> Okay. >> Now, I would say to you that you are board members that are elected that are appointing people to this committee and the facilitator facilitates you, they don't get to direct you. >> Yeah. >> But we can talk about all of that if it was the plan. >> We talked at the RSCA thing about creating cohorts. So so a representative from each of the groups would meet maybe once a you know, meet together so that we all know what's going on. >> Mhm. >> Uh and what's working for some groups and what's not working and what you're thinking about and what you're not thinking about. So that it's not just so that we're not in a vacuum. >> Okay. >> So that it's the whole as you know, and so RSCA's trying to if they don't have already create a relationship with somebody from each of the um you know, of the >> Merger study committees. >> Thank you. >> to uh meet and just make sure and it would be a virtual meeting, but it would just be to make sure that we >> So we know what's going on around the rest of the district. >> Yeah, just so we Yeah, I mean there's there's seven facilitators, right? And there's 20 of these merger study committees. So, if we had a rep from each merger study committee that could connect, it would just give us I think a better sense of what's going on across the >> Right, and it will help people >> Absolutely. >> And then also help RSCA know how to support us better. >> Yeah. >> So. >> That's a great idea. I hope they can And if not everybody, at least those Those who want to be part of it would do it. So. All right. >> And and So how how far along during this process with the merge committee, I mean uh before like the community communities kind of brought in? >> versus you know >> These are all open meetings and we'll update them. >> I mean I mean that's >> They'll never >> Okay. >> And encourage people to attend them. From your community, so that they can see what's going on. >> But find a way we got to let them know that they're there. >> No ads coming back. >> Oh, it's coming back. >> But and just a reminder that merger study committee will go ahead and you know, you as some of you have been through this, right? They'll elect a chair and I will be there to support you. I'm sure that Chris will come at times to support and listen to you financially, but you're going to be working with two other districts, one district and one another district from another SU. So, you'll really be the facilitator will be supporting you at those meetings. I will be there to listen, take notes, offer assistance, but it's not like it's not our meeting. We're not running the meeting. That's what I guess I'm trying to say. >> Jamie, you had thought that Rand said that Rand off group, which I don't know their name, but that they might petition to to leave our group. Is that >> I inquired if they had interest in that. It doesn't sound like they do. >> So, can we um appoint a member and then appoint an alternate? >> You can. >> Anyway, and wouldn't it be beneficial for us to so that >> I would just suggest if you're going to do that, please make certain the alternate is pretty committed to stay up to speed. >> Okay. >> I just think these are hard committees to come into as you will learn. So, I if you want to appoint an alternate, the law doesn't say you can't. Now, listen, again, it doesn't say you can. >> Right, okay. But, actually, there's they're not voting on anything within this committee anyway. >> They will eventually. >> Eventually. Yeah. Okay. >> So, we might get told no, we can't have an alternate, but if you want to as a board and they're committed to come, I would say go ahead and do it. And it doesn't Remember, these are public meetings, so you all could show up. >> You figuring these are once a month maybe or maybe a little more often? >> I think that that where the study committee will decide. I mean, I don't know how I probably will start off slower to begin with because the facilitators are going to get their legs under them. But, I think it is safe to expect that come the first of the year, there's going to be some months you're meeting twice. >> Like we did for budget. >> Yeah, like we did for budget or negotiations, right? Like I think it will start off slower, but then speed up. They're supposed I mean, facilitators are supposed to issue an initial report this session, like at the start of the session. >> Again? >> Yeah. So, um you know, you'll have to have at least met a couple times so they have something to initially report. >> I think it's really important that part of the law about, you know, good faith. And, you know, I I mean, for me, it's hard to think, you know, to think that Stratford would ever vote to enter into a K kind of operating K through 12 school district. That was either take our kids to South Royalton or Randolph. I mean, it's just not the way traffic moves out of Stratford. And it would be hard. But I you know, if I'm the person who's selected to it, it's going to be really important that I just don't go in there and say, "Well, screw it. I'm not going to vote for this." You know? I mean, it's that good faith which is really important. And also then I think um so that it might not be the big merger, but but maybe we can come out of it with some other ideas, through some things. And then then that's you know, it's sort of an appreciative way of looking at it. >> Well, in the example you gave that um Rutland is a unified union district which but but operates in two locations. So they do have elementary schools in two locations under this. And that's what we're talking about. Which is a >> Oh, yeah. I mean, listen, the new board could create all different types of operations. >> Yeah, they could have all kinds of buildings open. >> Yes. >> But >> And I'm sure that's part of what will come up in that conversation. >> But I No. All right. Any more discussion on this, guys? Remember to vote points at your next meeting. All right. >> It's going to be a fun next year. >> More fun than last year, too. >> More fun than last year? >> It was real fun. >> Are you raising the bar? >> It's just beginning. >> All right. Um budget and data report calendar 527. >> So there's not much tweaking here other than we I did we did some clean up in regards to how we approached the budget process in December-January. Um so if you look at it, you'll see in December we just clarified that you typically get all your area draft budget. And then that typically in January there's two meetings. Right? There's a final or revised draft budget based on feedback you give us in December, and then typically we have another formal adoption of budget. Once in a while we get it done in one, but typically >> I just noticed one other typo that the school year calendar in March will be for the 27th. >> Oh, I missed that. >> Uh no, because we're working across three different school years in this document. We've got data in the from last year, current year, and calendar for the future year. >> So, we'll fix that. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> That was mine. >> But otherwise, this is how we've done business. I hope it works well. It seemed to have always worked well for us in budget process. Um and the academic uh calendar aligns up to our universal assessment system. Um if for you know, if we were able to get the embargo lifted, you'll get the state summative assessment results in October. But I'm just based on where we're at currently right now around getting data to the AOE, I just don't expect that that's going to happen. I think this is probably the realistic timeline. So, I typically have you adopt this. I think it's good that you take action on it. I think it gives us direction, and it's just helpful sometimes when new board members come on. I've been able to reference back to this so they kind of know how we do our business. >> Yeah. >> All right. Any other discussions on that? Do you want us to move? >> I usually have you take the action and have to approve it. >> I have a motion to approve. >> So moved. >> As amended. Sarah moved. >> Sarah moved it. Jamie seconded. >> Juanita seconded. Any discussion? All those in favor say aye. >> Aye. >> Are there any nays? All right. Hearing none, so thanks. So, we have membership to the VSBA on here and we're going to push that to next month for when um Stacy is here with me. Stacy and I met with Sue from the VSBA. She invited me to lunch and I asked um Stacy to go with me so two of us would be there. I I thought it was a good conversation. I think they want us to come back, but I I want all of our perspectives. That's why I wanted the two people to go to be able to tell you how we felt about the meeting. Um so, we'll bring that back in September and and talk about it more, but they they did say one of the things that I did take away that she said is that they're trying to create a lot of um support around the merger study committees for boards. Um that's something I can tell you that I took from it. But, um Stacy, I want her input to come back and and share with you with how she felt about the meeting and then we can decide if we're interested or not. >> Cathy, I had a question um the email we received, I think it came today about a survey for the VSBA on Act 170. Seeing as we're not currently members of the VSBA, are we supposed to be doing that survey? >> I didn't >> Just a second. That came from me from the VSA and yes, that just went to chairs to give you a heads-up. I do have to fill that survey out. It's for the lead facilitator. >> Oh, okay. So, it wasn't this. >> The lead facilitator communicated to us through the VSA. >> Okay. >> And and board chairs probably got it from the VSBA separate. >> Yeah. But, that's something you are going to fill out. >> She did. Oh, yeah. >> So, the email >> it to you guys, too. >> So, we should be filling this out. >> No, I said I'm happy to take You can do it or I'll do it for you. I'm Sarah, yeah. All right, just let me know what you did or I'm happy to do it for you. Yeah, it's good that to know that she did do that at least for you. I I'm not always certain what the VSBA is actually giving you versus what not. I don't ever get anything from them anymore. I only get it from the VSA. >> Right. We don't She said in her email basically that we're not in their database, so it went out to everybody, but she's forwarding it on to her two board chairs. >> That was Hershey. >> Well, I don't know if it's Hershey or not. It's just that if they're the conduit to people from the uh facilitators, then then they have >> a problem. >> Then that then we've got a problem, you know, cuz we Membership in the VSA is not mandatory. We're not a member, and so if that's the conduit, she's going to have to do that for us. >> I I think. >> It sound It sounds like she's been asked to do that. >> I think she did, so. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> All right. >> I I will commit to though I'll continue to forward you all stuff at least when I get it from the VSA. There are times I think certainly she may send something out though that the VSA doesn't get. Cuz sometimes it's not always the same communication, right? There are times that specific to the person. >> Well, if you're not copied on it, then one of us will send it to you. Okay. >> Yeah, like she I don't think she included me today. >> Yeah, I don't >> I don't think she did. Yeah, I I do not think she did. >> Uh-huh, interesting. >> It wasn't today. It was a couple days I got it yesterday. >> Then I did not get it. Then I did not get it. >> Yeah. That's crazy, so maybe you have it in my email and I don't I >> So, if you don't mind, if if the VSB does send you something like that, if you do, just so >> I'll send it to >> Great. >> Let me distribute it around the neighborhood. >> All right, guys. Public comment? Resignations and new hires? >> Did we take action on the budget and calendar? >> Yes, we did. >> Oh, that's right. >> I motioned it, dear my lady. >> You motioned it? >> Any I was just keeping making you guys running. Is there any other business? Just kidding. >> Oh, geez. Sorry. You guys have a public comment? I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Lauren Miranda Wren and I'm from Norwich and I'm running for state rep for Windsor Orange 2. So, that represents two of the districts here, but my guess is my most interaction will probably be around town meetings or just wanted to introduce myself. Something like I and I will be staying on top of the school merger issues and different times potentially touching base with the office. So, just wanted to say hello. >> Well, thank you for Thank you for coming. >> What did you say your name was again? >> Uh Lauren Miranda Wren. Windsor Orange 2 state rep and I won the primary with Dee Gish, so no Republican challenger, so they're presumed one of the two state reps for Windsor Orange 2. >> Still have to vote, though. >> Yeah, definitely. >> Yeah, it was something. All right. >> So, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn. >> I just want to remind folks we do we are coming back on for 7:00 meetings. >> 6:00 meetings. >> Oh, no. 7:00 then. Okay, Phil has Allison has it. >> Regular meeting. >> Go ahead, Phil. >> Uh hi. Um under a future agenda item, I recommend that we develop a process for looking back as how our SU board performed last year and then establish our goals going forward. It's going to be a busy year, but we need to be all on the same page of what's important and what makes a difference. So, I recommend we develop that a calendar or whatever you want to call it um for for the near future. Thank you. >> Thanks, Bill. >> You're welcome. >> All right, so our next meeting date is September 22nd, 6:00 p.m. at the SU office. Motion to adjourn. >> So moved. >> Hi.