Superintendent Updates
Superintendent Updates
![Community Update: October 13, 2024]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1685716419/anwsdorg/wekcrcrokbvnxu9eycti/ANWSD-District-Icon-color.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1685716419/anwsdorg/wekcrcrokbvnxu9eycti/ANWSD-District-Icon-color.png","width":324}]){kind=icon}
Sheila Soule
October is National Principals Month, and we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to the amazing principals who lead our schools. Their dedication, passion, and commitment shape the educational experiences of our students and foster positive school cultures.
Every day, our principals inspire teachers, staff, and students to strive for their best. They navigate challenges with grace and create environments where every student can thrive. This month, join us in recognizing and thanking these remarkable leaders.
To our wonderful principals, thank you for all that you do. Your leadership and tireless efforts make a profound difference. Let’s all take a moment to #ThankAPrincipal and show our appreciation for their invaluable contributions to our schools and communities.
To learn more about how you can celebrate and honor principals in your life, visit principalsmonth.org.
Sheila Soule
Dear ANWSD Community,
This weekend was glorious! It is the time of year where I am reminded how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place. As we settle into the school year we see our learners growing more accustomed to their routines and taking on new challenges with determination. The classrooms are alive with productive energy, and it's encouraging to witness the steady progress our students are making each day. For the administration and school board, our collective energy turns toward budget development for the next fiscal year.
As many of you know, our towns contribute to our local schools through a statewide education fund. The education fund is a pool of state resources used to pay for the education of all Vermonters. The fund has numerous sources of money, including sales tax revenues, lottery revenues, a general fund transfer and other smaller sources. The largest source of revenue is property tax. This system has garnered attention since last spring when a third of school budgets—including ours—did not pass on their initial attempts. While various factors influenced these outcomes, our community has been considering the effects of Act 127. This legislation implements new research-based student weights for calculating per-pupil spending, aiming to more accurately reflect the costs of educating different groups of students across the state. Act 127 works within the existing education funding formula, which has long sought to balance educational opportunities and property tax equity across the state.
Recent years have seen a rise in school budgets, but it's important to understand the underlying factors. As Lieutenant Governor Zuckerman highlights in his recent newsletter; an analysis by the Public Assets Institute reveals that the majority of these increases include salary and benefit adjustments in response to inflation, health insurance cost increases outpacing inflation, the growing need for costly student mental health services, and the phasing out of federal funds provided through the pandemic-related American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). These increases are crucial for maintaining educational quality and ensuring fair compensation for teachers and staff. It's noteworthy that despite these apparent increases, when adjusted for inflation, overall education spending has remained relatively stable since 2005. This context helps illustrate that while budgets have grown, they largely reflect necessary adaptations to changing economic conditions and student needs rather than expansion of services or other expenditures.
We understand that our communities cannot absorb steep increases in property taxes, yet it’s equally clear that we must continue to invest in our schools to ensure that our children receive a high-quality education. The challenge we face is balancing the need for strong schools with the reality of avoiding an excessive tax burden on working Vermonters. This is a complex issue, and it lies at the heart of our ongoing discussions around education funding.
To help address these issues, the Legislature established The Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont to propose ways to resolve this challenge. Our Director of Finance and Operations, Elizabeth Jennings, serves on this committee. It is expected that this committee will have some short term and long term recommendations to address these issues, but perhaps not in time to impact the FY26 Budget Cycle.
Regardless, we face the important task of determining how to provide a high-quality education to our 850 students in the coming year. None of us want to experience the uncertainty and disruption that a defeated budget brings, as it ultimately hurts our children’s education. With rising costs, healthcare expenses, and the effects of Act 127 influencing our financial outlook, it’s crucial that we come together now. Next month, the Board, with input from the Administration, will set the budget goals for FY26, and we need your active engagement in this process.
One opportunity to engage will be this month. I invite you to attend one or both of these open sessions, where you can share your ideas and feedback on the budget or any other school matter you'd like to discuss. These informal drop-in sessions with me are often joined by a board member or two. I hope you’ll consider participating.
| Coffee and Conversation In-person drop-in meetings ANWSD Central Office |
Evening Exchange Link to Meeting: Click Here Password: ANWSD |
| Tuesday, October 29th date change! 8:00 a.m.- 9:00 a.m. |
Wednesday, October 23 |
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Friday, January 24 |
Wednesday, January 29 |
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Friday, April 18 |
Wednesday, April 9 |
Thank you for your engagement and ideas. Enjoy the week ahead.
Sincerely,
Sheila Soule
Superintendent, ANWSD
- Budget
Sheila Soule
Portrait of a Graduate
It was great to see so many of you at Open House this week. The turnout was fantastic at all schools. Thank you for making the event a priority during your busy week. It means a lot to us, and it's always fun for students to have the chance to share their school experiences with their families.
Several board members, along with Gabe Hamilton, Director of Learning, and I, were present at Open House to share more about our developing Portrait of a Graduate (POG). We are eager to gather community feedback on the POG because the process of development is just as important as the final product.
Although the word “graduate” is in the title, our POG will guide the skills we aim to develop through our curriculum and learning opportunities across all ANWSD schools. The goal is that, by graduation, students will be highly skilled in the areas outlined in the POG. This is crucial because the world has changed rapidly over the past two decades, affecting all major employment sectors. However, our education system has not evolved as quickly to best prepare students for their future. The POG will help us focus on the skills our students need for success in the future.
Over the past twenty years, the skills required for jobs have changed significantly. New technology, globalization, and shifts in the economy have made digital literacy—like using computers and online platforms—essential for most jobs, even those that traditionally didn’t require these skills. Workers now need to be familiar with various software and digital communication tools. As industries evolve, it is also important for workers to remain flexible and open to learning new skills over time.
Beyond technical skills, there is now a greater focus on "soft skills" like emotional intelligence, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) skills have become more valuable across many fields. As more tasks are automated, creative thinking and problem-solving have grown increasingly important. The ability to work well with people from different cultures is also crucial, as businesses become more global. With more companies moving online, skills in digital marketing and social media are in high demand. Basic cybersecurity knowledge has also become necessary due to the rise in digital threats. Finally, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of being able to work effectively from home or in hybrid environments.
As you review our POG, you’ll notice that these priorities are embedded throughout. We value your feedback on this draft so we can refine it into its final version, which will help shape our curriculum and other student outcomes. Please take a few minutes to review our draft portrait and share your thoughts through the survey. We appreciate your time and input.
![magnifying glass with the word policy]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1726684714/anwsdorg/jlmlldp0cl0gc2rxd3pw/download.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1726684714/anwsdorg/jlmlldp0cl0gc2rxd3pw/download.jpg","width":292}])
Sheila Soule
Dear ANWSD Families and Staff,
The ANWSD Board recently updated and adopted several important policies to ensure a safe and productive learning environment. Please review the following updates:
- B7 Tobacco Prohibition:
- Prohibits the use of tobacco or tobacco substitutes on school grounds and at school-sponsored functions.
- Students are prohibited from possessing tobacco products, paraphernalia, and substitutes on school property.
- Applies to all school-related activities, including field trips and sporting events.
- D3 Responsible Computer, Network, and Internet Use:
- Ensures students are educated about appropriate online behavior and digital citizenship.
- Implements measures to prevent access to inappropriate material and unauthorized online activities.
- Protects against unauthorized disclosure of personal information of minors.
- Applies to all users accessing the District's network, both on-site and remotely.
- D20 Curriculum Development and Coordination:
- Establishes a district-wide curriculum that meets or exceeds Vermont State Board of Education standards.
- Ensures curriculum compatibility for students educated outside the district.
- Requires systematic evaluations of all curriculum programs, with annual reports to the School Board.
- F3 Options-Based Response to Violent Intruder Drills, Fire Drills and Emergency Preparedness:
- Mandates age-appropriate, options-based response to violent intruder drills in fall and spring semesters.
- Requires adoption of an all-hazards emergency operations plan for each school site by July 1, 2024.
- Ensures parents are notified at least one day before drills are conducted.
- F4 Access Control and Visitor Management:
- Implements procedures for locking all exterior doors during school hours.
- Requires all visitors to check in at a centralized location before gaining full access.
- Maintains a log of all visitors, including the date, time, and purpose of each visit.
For full policy details, please visit our district website or contact the administrative office. These policies are designed to enhance safety, improve educational quality, and ensure responsible use of technology in our schools.
Thank you for your support in ensuring a safe and productive school community.
- Board
- Policy
Sheila Soule
Superintendent Update: September 15, 2024 includes important information about school safety.
September 15, 2024
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am writing to inform you about our ongoing commitment to school safety and the proactive measures we are taking to ensure the well-being of our students and staff. I have heard from many parents and know that school safety is always on the minds of many in our community.
Recently, our district held a regular meeting of our Public Safety Team, which included representatives from Vermont State Police, Vergennes Police Department, and Fire Department officials from Addison, Ferrisburgh, and Vergennes. During this meeting, we reviewed and discussed key procedures from our Emergency Operations Plan, seeking feedback and identifying areas for improvement. This collaborative approach allows us to leverage the expertise of various safety professionals and continuously enhance our safety protocols.
Looking ahead, we have scheduled several additional safety initiatives. In November, members of the Public Safety Team will return to conduct a comprehensive training session for our entire staff. They will also support us in planning and executing future training sessions and drills throughout the school year.
It's important to note that our schools conduct safety drills with students and staff throughout the academic year. These drills are designed to prepare for various scenarios and ensure that everyone knows how to respond in case of an emergency. In September these will include bus evacuation, an evacuation drill (also known as an egress drill), and an active threat training on our options-based protocols. Principals will communicate in advance of the active threat training with their specific plans.
Options-based drills are considered the most effective approach to school safety. Options-based drills, such as Run-Hide-Fight, teach students and staff to assess their situation and make informed decisions based on the specific circumstances of an emergency. This approach moves beyond the traditional "lockdown-only" response and empowers individuals to choose the best course of action for their safety in any public setting.
Options-based drills typically include:
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Evacuating the building when safe to do so
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Barricading rooms to prevent entry
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Distracting or countering a threat as a last resort
These drills are age-appropriate and conducted in a manner that prioritizes the emotional well-being of our students while effectively preparing them for potential emergencies.
We believe that by working closely with local safety experts and implementing these comprehensive safety measures, we are creating the safest possible environment for our school community. Your child's safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your support in this work.
As always, I want to hear from you about this or any other important topic. If the options below do not work for you you can always make an appointment to meet with me by following the link on my webpage.
In-person Coffee and Conversations at the ANWSD Central Office
Oct 18, Jan 24 and April 18, 2025 from 8:00 to 9:00.
Virtual Drop In Meetings via Zoom
Oct 23, Jan 29, and April 9, 2025
Link to Meeting: Click Here Password: ANWSD
Sincerely,
Sheila Soule, Superintendent