Issued on Feb. 15, 2017 (click here to view this letter as a pdf.file or to print it.- no sign up or password required.)
A letter to Voters in Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham from the Committee Members.
February 15, 2017
Dear Community
Members,
This is the follow
up from our first three community forums.
Below are the questions that have been asked at the meetings and their
answers. If you have questions that are
not answered here please come to the Public Information meetings on Feb. 20th
in Windham and March 1st at L&G.
Q: How will
transportation work?
A: Transportation planning is one of the first responsibilities of the new board. We cannot say what it will look like at this point.
A: Transportation planning is one of the first responsibilities of the new board. We cannot say what it will look like at this point.
Q: Do taxes change
after 4 years?
A: We know we have the incentives for the first four years. After the first 4 years we don’t know.
A: We know we have the incentives for the first four years. After the first 4 years we don’t know.
Q: Is there one
board for all that schools K-12?
A: Yes. The current board remain until July 1, 2019. After that the new unified board would take over with the current district boards remaining in existence until they wrap up their affairs.
A: Yes. The current board remain until July 1, 2019. After that the new unified board would take over with the current district boards remaining in existence until they wrap up their affairs.
Q: Will schools be
closed?
A: Article 14 requires a vote of the town to close a school. A school can close but it will not happen without the consent of the town involved.
A: Article 14 requires a vote of the town to close a school. A school can close but it will not happen without the consent of the town involved.
Q: What is the
composition of the board?
A: Representation is based on population: Newfane - 3, Brookline - 1, Townshend - 2, Jamaica - 2, Windham - 1 and 2 at large members elected from the entire district once it is formed.
A: Representation is based on population: Newfane - 3, Brookline - 1, Townshend - 2, Jamaica - 2, Windham - 1 and 2 at large members elected from the entire district once it is formed.
Q: What if there is
no petition filed to be on the ballot for the new board?
A: There can be a write in candidate. If no one is elected the town board can appoint a member to the new board.
A: There can be a write in candidate. If no one is elected the town board can appoint a member to the new board.
Q: How does
consolidation affect hosting Pre-K?
A: The new board will determine how Pre-K will be offered district wide.
A: The new board will determine how Pre-K will be offered district wide.
Q: How will this be
changed by any new legislation during the current sessions in Montpellier?
A: As of right now only deadlines for compliance are proposed to be changed.
A: As of right now only deadlines for compliance are proposed to be changed.
Q: What happens if
there is a "no" vote?
A: The Towns can ask the state to stay in the structure we have, but it is unlikely they will let us. It is most likely they will want us to go with the plan we've created as they have already approved it.
A: The Towns can ask the state to stay in the structure we have, but it is unlikely they will let us. It is most likely they will want us to go with the plan we've created as they have already approved it.
Q: In the new
structure, will there be an Annual School Meeting on Town Meeting Day?
A: No. There will be a separate annual meeting for the district, much like the system L&G uses now.
A: No. There will be a separate annual meeting for the district, much like the system L&G uses now.
Q: Where would the
"center of the Universe" be for this district?
A: That will be decided by what is most practical for the new Board.
A: That will be decided by what is most practical for the new Board.
Q: When will the
school choice within the district first be available and what will the process
be?
A: The new Board will have to come up with a system for it, but the earliest it might be available is September 2019.
A: The new Board will have to come up with a system for it, but the earliest it might be available is September 2019.
Q: Does the
district have enough students to meet the State's size requirements?
A: Yes, because we would be forming a “side by side” with the new River Valley Unified School District – comprised of Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro.
A: Yes, because we would be forming a “side by side” with the new River Valley Unified School District – comprised of Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro.
Q: What does
representation look like on the new board if a town opts out of the
consolidation?
A: Representation stays the same as shown in the report as the opted out town still sits on the board for matters related to L&G. (See Article 17.) An opt out town however will not vote on the at-large members starting March 2018. The opt out may become moot if the State Board of Education, in their statewide plan, moves towns in union high school districts into a unified system.
A: Representation stays the same as shown in the report as the opted out town still sits on the board for matters related to L&G. (See Article 17.) An opt out town however will not vote on the at-large members starting March 2018. The opt out may become moot if the State Board of Education, in their statewide plan, moves towns in union high school districts into a unified system.
Q: If the WRED
forms does the LGUMHS cease to exist as a legal entity?
A: Yes, as well as all the town school districts voting to join the unified district.
A: Yes, as well as all the town school districts voting to join the unified district.
Q: How is this
possible as the towns that vote to form it should need to vote to dissolve it?
A: The articles call for the dissolving of districts if the unified district is formed. A yes vote forms the unified district and dissolves the existing district simultaneously. The articles specify the start date for the unified district and the ending date for the town boards of the member districts. (See Article 13.)
A: The articles call for the dissolving of districts if the unified district is formed. A yes vote forms the unified district and dissolves the existing district simultaneously. The articles specify the start date for the unified district and the ending date for the town boards of the member districts. (See Article 13.)
Q: Will the WRED
have a new or different annual meeting date?
A: The unified district board can set meeting dates as it desires. Decisions by the voters of the entire unified district are needed to change the voting process (to or from Australian ballot) to something different than specified in the articles.
A: The unified district board can set meeting dates as it desires. Decisions by the voters of the entire unified district are needed to change the voting process (to or from Australian ballot) to something different than specified in the articles.
You can also watch
the videos of the forums we have held at www.brattleborotv.org/watch/meetings
Consolidation now, by our own design,
is our best choice. Remember to vote
March 7, 2017. Polls open 9am -7pm.
Thank you, The Act
46 Study Committee
Complete archive of
the Study Committee’s work --
www.wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com
If
you have questions or comments please contact a study committee member listed
below.
Joe Winrich
Townshend Patti
Dickson, Jamaica
Brud Sanderson, Townshend Carolyn Partridge, Windham
Drew Hazelton, Jamaica Emily Long, Newfane
Erin Zargo, Brookline Heidi Russ, Townshend
Ian Doak, Newfane Kelli Warriner, Newfane
Ken McFadden, Newfane Kris Jerz, Townshend
Neil Pelsue, Newfane Pam Tweedy, Jamaica
Sherry Greene, Brookline
Brud Sanderson, Townshend Carolyn Partridge, Windham
Drew Hazelton, Jamaica Emily Long, Newfane
Erin Zargo, Brookline Heidi Russ, Townshend
Ian Doak, Newfane Kelli Warriner, Newfane
Ken McFadden, Newfane Kris Jerz, Townshend
Neil Pelsue, Newfane Pam Tweedy, Jamaica
Sherry Greene, Brookline
Public information
forums will be held as follows:
Windham February 20, 2017, 6:00 at the Windham Elementary School
Final meeting March 1, 2017 at 7:00 pm at Leland & Gray
Windham February 20, 2017, 6:00 at the Windham Elementary School
Final meeting March 1, 2017 at 7:00 pm at Leland & Gray
Issued on Feb.14, 2017
Public Service Announcement - please add dates to calendar of events
Final Two Public Information Meetings for the Two ACT 46 Study Committees of the WCSU
Information pertaining to
Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro
Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham
TOWNSHEND, February 14, 2017 — The following two dates are the final public information meetings for each of the two Act 46 Study Committees formed under the Windham Central Supervisory Union. At each meeting, committee members present a short slide presentation about the results of their study project, and then the floor is open for questions from the public.
ACT 46 Elementary Study Committee: Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro
FINAL MEETING — Monday, February 27, 2017, 6:30 pm to 8 pm at Dover Town Hall, West Dover. Voters and interested residents from all three towns are invited to attend.
ACT 46 Leland &Gray Towns Study Committee: Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham
FINAL MEETING — Wednesday, March 1, 2017, 7 pm at Leland and Gray School, Townshend. Voters and interested residents from all five towns are invited to attend.
These public information meetings are video recorded by Brattleboro Community TV and are posted on the BCTV website (www.brattleborotv.org.) and on the Committees’ blog sites as soon as the video is edited and released. In addition, the study committees have written and posted the answers to the questions asked at the meetings on their individual blog sites.
Although the Reports and Articles of Agreement that the committees present are final and cannot be further altered or amended, having been reviewed and approved by the State of Vermont’s Agency of Education at the end of last year, public participation at earlier meetings held in late January and earlier this month has been fundamental in helping voters grasp the details of the proposed plans for the consolidation of school governance among these towns.
At their town’s meeting places on Vermont’s Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 7, 2017, voters can cast their ballot concerning two articles asking whether to consolidate existing school Districts into a single unified school governance district and, if consolidated, they will also be voting who will serve as Directors representing their towns on the new district board.
Each of the Aft 46 Study Committees has maintained their own individual archive of their proceedings on separate blog sites. Anyone can view the documents posted without signing in and without any password, and there are links on each of the sites where users may ask questions.
ACT 46 Elementary Study Committee: Residents of Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro who wish to be brought up date on the committee’s actions on the Act 46 initiatives can read all the minutes, watch full-length videos of the meetings, see the public information slides show, and read the Approved Report and Articles of Agreement by going to the committee’s blog site — wcsu.committee.blogspot.com
ACT 46 Leland &Gray Towns Study Committee: Residents of Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham who wish to be brought up date on the committee’s actions on the Act 46 initiatives can read all the minutes, watch full-length videos of the meetings, see the public information slides show, and read the Approved Report and Articles of Agreement by going to the committee’s blog site — wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com.
Additional Information
Anyone interested in knowing more about the upcoming vote and who does not have online access is urged to contact any of the Study Committee members for the panels representing their town.
ACT 46 Elementary Study Committee Volunteer Members
Rich Werner, Dover
Laura Sibilia, Dover
Chip Vicary, Dover
Randy Capitani, Dover
Dan MacCarthur, Marlboro
Lucy Gratwick, Marlboro
Celena Romo, Marlboro
Jill Dean, Wardsboro
Dwight Boerem, Wardsboro
Mike Murphy, Wardsboro
ACT 46 Leland &Gray Towns Study Committee Members
Joe Winrich, Townshend, Chairperson
Brud Sanderson, Townshend
Heidi Russ, Townshend
Kris Jerz, Townshend
Antje Ruppert, Windham
Carolyn Partridge, Windham
Drew Hazelton, Jamaica
Pam Tweedy, Jamaica
Patti Dickson, Jamaica
Ian Doak, Newfane
Emily Long, Newfane
Kelli Warriner, Newfane
Ken McFadden, Newfane
Neil Pelsue, Newfane
Erin Zargo, Brookline
Final Two Public Information Meetings for the Two ACT 46 Study Committees of the WCSU
Information pertaining to
Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro
Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham
TOWNSHEND, February 14, 2017 — The following two dates are the final public information meetings for each of the two Act 46 Study Committees formed under the Windham Central Supervisory Union. At each meeting, committee members present a short slide presentation about the results of their study project, and then the floor is open for questions from the public.
ACT 46 Elementary Study Committee: Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro
FINAL MEETING — Monday, February 27, 2017, 6:30 pm to 8 pm at Dover Town Hall, West Dover. Voters and interested residents from all three towns are invited to attend.
ACT 46 Leland &Gray Towns Study Committee: Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham
FINAL MEETING — Wednesday, March 1, 2017, 7 pm at Leland and Gray School, Townshend. Voters and interested residents from all five towns are invited to attend.
These public information meetings are video recorded by Brattleboro Community TV and are posted on the BCTV website (www.brattleborotv.org.) and on the Committees’ blog sites as soon as the video is edited and released. In addition, the study committees have written and posted the answers to the questions asked at the meetings on their individual blog sites.
Although the Reports and Articles of Agreement that the committees present are final and cannot be further altered or amended, having been reviewed and approved by the State of Vermont’s Agency of Education at the end of last year, public participation at earlier meetings held in late January and earlier this month has been fundamental in helping voters grasp the details of the proposed plans for the consolidation of school governance among these towns.
At their town’s meeting places on Vermont’s Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 7, 2017, voters can cast their ballot concerning two articles asking whether to consolidate existing school Districts into a single unified school governance district and, if consolidated, they will also be voting who will serve as Directors representing their towns on the new district board.
Each of the Aft 46 Study Committees has maintained their own individual archive of their proceedings on separate blog sites. Anyone can view the documents posted without signing in and without any password, and there are links on each of the sites where users may ask questions.
ACT 46 Elementary Study Committee: Residents of Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro who wish to be brought up date on the committee’s actions on the Act 46 initiatives can read all the minutes, watch full-length videos of the meetings, see the public information slides show, and read the Approved Report and Articles of Agreement by going to the committee’s blog site — wcsu.committee.blogspot.com
ACT 46 Leland &Gray Towns Study Committee: Residents of Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham who wish to be brought up date on the committee’s actions on the Act 46 initiatives can read all the minutes, watch full-length videos of the meetings, see the public information slides show, and read the Approved Report and Articles of Agreement by going to the committee’s blog site — wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com.
Additional Information
Anyone interested in knowing more about the upcoming vote and who does not have online access is urged to contact any of the Study Committee members for the panels representing their town.
ACT 46 Elementary Study Committee Volunteer Members
Rich Werner, Dover
Laura Sibilia, Dover
Chip Vicary, Dover
Randy Capitani, Dover
Dan MacCarthur, Marlboro
Lucy Gratwick, Marlboro
Celena Romo, Marlboro
Jill Dean, Wardsboro
Dwight Boerem, Wardsboro
Mike Murphy, Wardsboro
ACT 46 Leland &Gray Towns Study Committee Members
Joe Winrich, Townshend, Chairperson
Brud Sanderson, Townshend
Heidi Russ, Townshend
Kris Jerz, Townshend
Antje Ruppert, Windham
Carolyn Partridge, Windham
Drew Hazelton, Jamaica
Pam Tweedy, Jamaica
Patti Dickson, Jamaica
Ian Doak, Newfane
Emily Long, Newfane
Kelli Warriner, Newfane
Ken McFadden, Newfane
Neil Pelsue, Newfane
Erin Zargo, Brookline
Issued on 12-8-2016
Public Service Announcement
Would you like to know more?
Presentations about the Future of Education in the West River Valley
The committee members of the Act 46 Leland and Gray Towns invite any local group, club or organization to host a short, informative presentation about the Report and Articles of Agreement. The presentations will be informal, people may ask questions about the Report, the Articles of Agreement, the ballot which they will see in March 2017, at Town Meeting Day, and also discuss the impact on their town if the voters choose Yes or No when it comes time to vote on the consolidation of school governance. Contact the media desk - wcsu.media@windhamcentral.org to schedule a presentation for your group.
Issued on 11/29-2016
Press Release
Act 46 Leland and Gray Towns
Study Committee for Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham
Completes and Approves its Report and
Articles of Agreement
TOWNSHEND, VERMONT — On November 21, 2016, the Windham Central
Supervisory Union (WCSU) Act 46 LG Towns Study Committee for Brookline,
Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham
voted to approve the final draft of its Report and Articles of Agreement. Eight of the 15 committee members
were present, the vote was seven in favor, and one opposed. The committee
members voting in favor were: Patti Dickson and Drew Hazelton of Jamaica; Joe
Winrich and Heidi Russ of Townshend; Sherry Greene of Brookline; and Emily Long
and Neil Pelsue of Newfane. The nay vote was cast by Ken McFadden of Newfane.
Those present for the vote were a quorum.
Joe Winrich, who is a Townshend resident and who is also chair of the
Leland & Gray board, acts as chair for the Study Committee. He said, “The
approved Articles represent what the Committee felt best addressed the needs of
the schools in each town. The challenge going forward is outreach to the
communities in the coming weeks, so that every parent, resident and voter knows
about the Report and the Articles of
Agreement before they cast their votes in March. We need to educate
everybody about what this really means.”
Patti Dickson of Jamaica voted in favor of approving the Report and Articles of Agreement. She said, "Working with the committee members from our surrounding communities created a unique opportunity to understand the challenges the WCSU elementary schools face and the many creative ways their administrators devise to consistently provide educational excellence. Since we began meeting in August of this year, the Committee has looked at each one of these Articles in detail, with long discussions, and I am confident that we have made solid proposals for the consolidation of school governance for our towns.” She also commented on public outreach, adding, “I am hopeful the public will take advantage of the many information outlets the committee will continue to provide to become knowledgeable and ask questions prior to the extremely important Act 46 vote on town meeting day."
The seven Committee members absent from the meeting during which the Articles were approved included: Brud Sanderson and Kris Jerz—Townshend; Carolyn Partridge—Windham; Pam Tweedy—Jamaica; Ian Doak and Kelli Warriner—Newfane; and Erin Zargo—Brookline. Carolyn Partridge sent a statement to the Committee that was read at the 11/21 meeting. In part, she wrote: “At this point, appreciating all of the work that has been done, I don’t think, in good conscience, I can vote for the Articles of Agreement as written.” She did not vote, in fact, as an absentee; however, her letter to the Committee elaborated on her perspective of how the Act 46 issue could affect Windham. She wrote: “I am concerned that there will be little transparency when it comes to exactly what is being provided to each school. What I hear repeatedly in my role as a legislator is that citizens want more transparency, not less, and this goes in the wrong direction. It also contributes to my fear that a school like Windham, with one member on the board, will be shortchanged with resulting poor performance and an excuse to close the school. I do not see significant enough changes in educational opportunity (school choice and Pre-K) to warrant the loss of parental involvement and connection to the schools that I believe will result. I do appreciate the inclusion of the language regarding the closure on schools, school choice, and the clarification of the transportation language. I have written repeatedly about education being the most important investment in our future -country, state, and community. I also understand proportional representation but want to make sure the minority doesn’t suffer at the hands of the majority.” Carolyn Partridge serves in the Vermont Legislature as the Representative from the Windham-3 district and is chair of the House Committee on Agriculture and Forest Products. She can be reached at cpartridge@leg.state.vt.us.
The Committee members had set a goal when they began their sessions
last summer to have a document completed by late November, and by adding a few
extra meetings to their schedule in late October and November, they were able
to complete their report and the articles on schedule. The BCTV video of the
November 21 meeting and the minutes are available from a link on the
Committee’s blog site at wcsu-LGTowns.blogspot.com.
The document that the Committee approved is a 34-page paper, consisting
of a report from the Committee, 17 Articles of Agreement that are the proposed
plan for the consolidation of school governance for these 5 towns,
recommendations prepared by the Committee’s consultant, John Everitt, and
charts and tables in an appendix. The approved document outlines a plan for the
consolidation of school governance that aligns with the goals of Vermont Act
46. In his memo to the Study Committee, which is contained in the Report, John
Everitt, the consultant to the group wrote: “A unified system could lead to a
continuous communication culture where the Pre-K and elementary family
experiences flow seamlessly into the secondary experience. The culture would be
supported by a governance and leadership structure that emphasizes continuous
PreK-12 opportunities and learning experiences. Students and parents transition
to a different school, but not a different communication or policy structure.
The focus for all is the complete education of each child. Learning
opportunities and relationship building are designed with that focus from the
earliest interactions with the area’s young children through their completion
of high school. Teachers, staff, and administrators would also experience the
common culture and expectations. While each school will have differences, they
will not be differences that interfere with communication or collegial learning
or cooperation.”
The Articles of Agreement
will go before the voters as a ballot in Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend
and Windham on Town Meeting Day, March 2017. Before then, the Committee is
planning to schedule open discussion sessions in each of the towns so that
voters can have the opportunity to ask questions about how each of the articles
in the document may or may not impact their town and their school. Overall, the
Articles of Agreement includes no
plans to close any elementary school in each of the five towns, and, by
unanimous agreement of the Committee members, the document shows a strong
intent to preserve the unique character of each of the elementary schools.
Should the voters ultimately reject the recommendations of the Leland and Gray
Towns Study Committee, Vermont’s Agency of Education can mandate changes to
school governance for these towns. This can also result in the loss of
small school grants now received, which could be in excess of $200,000.
The full document can be viewed on the Committee’s blog site at
wcsu-LGTowns.blogspot.com. Anyone who wishes to receive a copy by email should
send their name and email address to wcsu.media@windhamcentral.org.
A printed copy is kept on file at the elementary schools in Brookline, Jamaica,
Newfane, Townshend and Windham.
Part of the process of submitting the Articles of Agreement to the State Agency of Education requires
that the new unified school district be given a new name. The Committee, with
participation from everyone present at the meeting, chose the name “West River Education
District” (WRED). There would no longer be separate school boards, but instead
only one school board known by that name, comprised of representatives from
each town.
The next meeting of the Leland & Gray Towns Study Committee is
scheduled for December 7, 2016 at 7pm, to be held at the Library Room at Leland
& Gray Union Middle and High School in Townshend. This is an open public
meeting. The agenda includes scheduling several public information sessions in
the various towns so that residents can ask questions about the Articles of Agreement before the ballot
goes to voters in each town in March 2017. Updates on this meeting and the
schedule of public information sessions are posted on the blog site at www.wcsu-LGTowns.blogspot.com.
Additional information available
for residents, taxpayers and voters
Residents, taxpayers and voters have several options if they wish to
keep informed about the progress of the multi-town Study Committee. One way to
keep up to date is to attend the meetings.
Another way to stay informed is to visit the blog at www.wcsu-LGTowns.blogspot.com. This website contains the full
minutes of every meeting, links to video tapings of the meetings, the full
schedule of upcoming meetings, a page of Frequently Asked Questions, and a page
of links to valuable information and articles about Act 46. Visitors to the
blog may submit questions by email, which the Committee will answer and may
post. Members of their local Front Porch Forums will also see the Committee's
meeting schedule as a calendar event.
Issued on 11-3-2016
Public Service Announcement
Leland and Gray Towns Act 46 Study Committee Makes Changes to Meeting Schedule
Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham
TOWNSHEND, November 1 2016 — The following are the changes to the Leland and Gray Towns Act 46 Study Committee’s schedule of meetings. Note that the meeting times and days of the week vary from previously announced schedules.
The new meeting schedule is:
November 16, Wednesday. at 5pm (note the time change to5pm)
November 21, Monday, at 7pm (note the change of day to Monday)
December 7, Wednesday, at 5pm (note the time change to 5pm).
The meeting schedule is regularly updated at the Study Committee’s blogsite at wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com. The meetings are all Open Public Meetings by Vermont Law. The meetings are held in the Library at the Leland and Gray Union Middle and High School in Townshend, Vermont. Residents of Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham who wish to be brought up speed on the committee’s progress on the Act 46 initiatives to date can read all the minutes or watch full-length videos of the meetings by going to the committee’s blogsite— wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com.
Additional Information:
Voters headed to the polls on Election Day, November 8,2016, are encouraged to look for the Leland and Gray Towns Act 46 Study Committee brochures at their towns’ polling places in Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend, Windham. The brochures contain helpful tips for voters to stay informed about when the committees’ reports will be ready for review. Voters who took part in early voting for the coming elections in their towns and anyone who wishes to be brought up speed on the proceedings so far, can read all the minutes or watch full-length videos of the meetings by going to the committee’s blogsite. The brochure is also posted on the blogsite which is wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com.
Issued on 10-31-2016
Our Brochure
Issued on 10-31-2016 Public Service Announcement
LOOK FOR ACT STUDY COMMITTEES’ BROCHURES ON NOV. 8 AT POLLING PLACES IN:
Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham
Also: Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro
TOWNSHEND, November 1 2016 — Voters headed to the polls on Election Day, November 8,2016, are encouraged to look for Act 46 Study Committee brochures at their towns’ polling places in Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend, Windham, or in Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro. The brochures, prepared by the two separate Act 46 Study Committees are free. There is a short summary of the work that each Study Committee has done so far with regard to their participating schools, and the brochures contain helpful tips for voters to stay informed about when the committees’ reports will be ready for review.
Since last summer, each of the Study Committees has held regular open public meetings in an effort to comply with the requirements of Vermont’s Act 46. Although the State Agency of Education issued a workbook pertaining to Act 46, which study committees throughout the state have been using to draft their reports, each Study Committee must determine their own Articles of Agreement and rules for consolidated governance. The two committees are known as the Act 46 L&G Towns Study Committee for Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham and the Act 46 Elementary Study Committee for Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro.
These committees are comprised of individuals who serve their towns in a variety of capacities. They were tasked with working towards agreements that will form new educational school districts for these towns that meet the goals of Vermont’s Act 46 — to provide better and more educational opportunities for students in these three towns.
Voters in each town will make the final decision, by Australian ballot, as to whether the Study Committees’ recommendations are accepted or rejected on Town Meeting Day in March 2017.
Voters who took part in early voting for the coming elections in their towns and anyone who wishes to be brought up speed on the proceedings so far, can read all the minutes or watch full-length videos of the meetings by going to the committees’ blog sites. The brochure is also posted on the blogsites.
They are:
For Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham — wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com.
For Dover, Marlboro and Wardsboro — wcsu-committee.blogspot.com.
On those sites, there are FAQ pages, where voters may also submit their questions. The sites also have updated announcements, the full meeting schedules, and many useful links, including a link to the presentation that each of the school principals brought to the past meetings of the Study Committees.
##
Issued on 10-26-2016
PRESS RELEASE
ACT STUDY COMMITTEE WORK PROGRESSES
Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham
TOWNSHEND, October 26. 2016 — The fifteen members of the Act 46 Study Committee for the “Leland and Gray towns” —Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend and Windham — are continuing to meet regularly in an effort to prepare their final report on the consolidation of school governance and other matters related to equalizing educational opportunities as mandated by the 2015 Act 46. The committee has held meetings every two weeks since this past summer, and portions of the more recent meetings have been dedicated to listening to presentations by the principals of each of the schools in these five towns. The purpose of the presentations was to familiarize the entire committee, whose members come from each of the towns, with the demographics, curriculums, activities, and overall culture of the five schools.
In its most recent meeting on October 19, 2016, the committee members reviewed and discussed the articles for the report, and looked at alternatives in the event that voters reject their recommendations. The voters of Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend, and Windham will make the final decision as to whether the Study Committee’s recommendations are accepted or rejected on Town Meeting Day, March 2017. Looking ahead to November, the committee plans to meet with the Vermont Agency of Education to present its report for review and revision, if needed. Although the State has issued a workbook pertaining to Act 46, which study committees throughout the state have been using to draft their reports, each committee must determine their own articles and rules for consolidated governance.
The education consultant who is working hand-in-hand with this study committee, John Everitt, said, “The people seated on this committee are very sensitive to the community meaning and connection provided by the local elementary schools and they also understand the possible opportunities for student learning and the financial impacts of unification.” Everitt has worked with several Vermont school districts on governance studies, and comes to the committee through the Vermont School Boards Association. He has been preparing finance reports pertinent to each schools, and projections of how the numbers for consolidated governance might look, as well as drafts of the articles for the committee to discuss and amend.
Joe Winrich of Townshend, the chair of the Leland and Gray Towns Study Committee, as they are called, said, “The committee is involved in some hard discussions as the members work through the costs and benefits of a possible consolidation of school governance. Keeping focused on student equity and opportunity moving forward, I'm confident the committee will complete the process and bring a thoughtful proposal to our communities.”
Everitt, commenting on the public’s involvement in the committee’s work, said, “The study committee has done substantial background work and is in a position to solicit input from the community. Committee members are looking for ways to communicate with their fellow citizens so that every community member knows what is under consideration and how to provide their feedback to the committee.”
To date, there has been minimal public participation at the meetings, which are held in the library room at Leland and Gray Union Middle and High School in Townshend. The committee members have welcomed comments from the few townspeople who have attended their meetings. By Vermont law, all of the committee’s meetings are Open Public Meetings. Members of their local Front Porch Forums will also see the Committee's meeting schedule as a calendar event. Voters who wish to be brought up speed on the proceedings so far, can read all the minutes or watch full-length videos of the meetings by going to the committee’s blog site at wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com. On those pages, there is a FAQ page, where voters may also submit their questions. The site also has updated announcements, the full meeting schedule, and many useful links, including a link to the presentation that each of the school principals brought to the past meetings.
One committee member from Jamaica, Patti Dickson, said, “I urge everyone the living in of the WCSU towns to participate in some way in this pivotal decision making process. You can take advantage of the feedback options available on the blog site; give input at meetings; contact your community’s committee members.” She feels that this is important for voters to be able to make an informed decision during the vote at Town Meeting in Match, 2017.
The Act 46 Leland and Gray Towns Study Committee meetings are at 7pm, twice monthly, at Leland and Gray Union Middle and High School in Townshend. The November meetings are scheduled for November 2 and November 16. However, any last minute changes in the meeting schedule will be posted on the committee’s blog site and on Front Porch Forums.
The study committee members, all volunteers, are: from Townshend—Joe Winrich, Chair, Brud Sanderson, Heidi Russ, and Kris Jerz; from Brookline—Erin Zargo and Sherry Greene; from Newfane—Ian Doak, Emily Long, Kelli Warriner, Ken McFadden, Neil Pelsue; from Jamaica—Drew Hazelton, Patti Dickson, and Pam Tweedy; from Windham—Carolyn Partridge. These individuals, who serve the towns in a variety of capacities, were tasked with working towards an agreement that will form a new educational school district for these towns that meets the goals of Vermont’s Act 46 — to provide better and more educational opportunities for students in these three towns.
Vermont's Act 46 is an act relating to making amendments to education funding, education spending, and education governance. The Act 46 Study Committee is comprised of community members from five towns who serve the towns in a variety of capacities and who were tasked with working towards an agreement that will form a new educational school district for these towns that meets the goals of Vermont's Act 46—to provide better and more educational opportunities for students in these five towns.
Issued on 10-12-2016
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT AND NEWS BRIEF
Please add date to Calendar of Events
October 19, Wednesday, 7 PM, Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School, Townshend
Act 46 Leland & Gray Towns Study Committee Meeting; open public meeting; view the proposed agenda at wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com
Act 46 Leland & Gray Towns Study Group Meeting Schedule
by Windham Central Supervisory Union - WCSU Media
The October meeting for the Act 46 Leland and Gray Towns Study Committee for the towns of Brookline, Jamaica, Newfane, Townshend, and Windham is scheduled for Thursday, October 19, at 7 PM at Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School, Townshend. Meetings are held in the school library, and are, by Vermont law, open public meetings.
There are two meetings scheduled for next month, November 2 and November 16.
The proposed agenda for the upcoming meeting on October 19, includes plans to review and discuss proposed articles for the report with John Everitt, a consultant who has been contracted to work with the group. Through the Vermont School Boards Association, Everitt has worked with several Vermont school districts on governance studies. In prior meetings, the principals of the schools in the four of the five towns made overview presentations to the committee about their schools. At the upcoming meeting, Deborah Leggott, the principal of Townshend Elementary School will present information about the administration, curriculum and activities at that school. The full agenda is posted on the Study Committee’s blogsite at www.wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com.
Residents, taxpayers and voters have several options if they wish to keep informed about the progress of the work that the Study Committee is doing for these five towns. One way to keep up to date is to attend the meetings. In addition, voters may sign up for periodic email news about the Study Committee by sending their name, address and email address to this email: wcsu.media@windhamcentral.org.
A third way to stay informed is to visit the newly created blog at www.wcsu-lgtowns.blogspot.com. This website contains the full minutes of every meeting, links to video tapings of the meetings, the full schedule of upcoming meetings, a page of Frequently Asked Questions, and a page of links to valuable information and articles about Act 46. Visitors to the blog may submit questions by email, which the Committee will answer and may post. Members of their local Front Porch Forums will also see the Committee's meeting schedule as a calendar event.
The study committee members, all volunteers, are: from Townshend-—Joe Winrich, Chairperson, Brud Sanderson, Heidi Russ, and Kris Jerz; from Brookline—Erin Zargo and Sherry Greene; from Newfane—Emily Long, Kelli Warriner, Ken McFadden, Neil Pelsue; from Jamaica—Drew Hazelton, Patti Dickson, and Pam Tweedy; from Windham—Carolyn Partridge.
Vermont's Act 46 is an act relating to making amendments to education funding, education spending, and education governance. The Act 46 Study Committee is comprised of community members from five towns who serve the towns in a variety of capacities and who were tasked with working towards an agreement that will form a new educational school district for these towns that meets the goals of Vermont's Act 46—to provide better and more educational opportunities for students in these three towns. To complete the work on an expedited schedule, meetings have been held twice a month.
