Superintendent Updates

Seeing snow in the forecast was surprising as we are enjoying another 50° Saturday with bright blue skies! It was my reminder to send out my annual communication regarding the inevitability of school closures and delays. School closings and delays will be shared with families using our messaging service via email, texts, and phone calls by 6:00 a.m. They are also reported on local television stations.

The school district spans approximately 20 miles from parts of Addison all the way to North Ferrisburgh, and sometimes the conditions are often different from one town to the other, even so, we generally make district-wide decisions regarding school cancellations. This is also because certain attendance thresholds need to be met in order to avoid making up the day at the end of the year, and if by canceling one school we impact attendance at another we run the risk of not hitting that threshold. Transportation costs factor into the decision as we try to avoid paying for an additional day of transportation, if one school remains open while others close. Therefore, if one of our schools needs to delay or close, typically the entire school district does the same. Due to our shared programming at the Career and Technical Center, we also typically make decisions in consultation with other area Superintendents. All this to say, it can be complicated! 

We do try not to close school once we are in session for the day. If rapidly changing weather conditions make an early closing an absolute necessity, parents will be notified via email, texts, and phone calls. On those days, after school programming, athletics, and Fusion are also canceled. 

As a reminder, parents/guardians are always the final decision maker regarding the safety of their child. If at any time a parent/guardian feels that weather conditions at home feel unsafe, we respect your decision to choose to keep your child home even if schools are open. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with unforeseen changes due to winter weather. 

This will be a busy week in the district. On Monday, November 10th the ANWSD Board will hear the second budget presentation for the year. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. in the library of VUMHS and will also be recorded. We hope you will consider attending. Your participation in these early stages of our budget development are helpful to us as we aim to make the decisions that are most reflective of the community’s hopes and dreams for the district. 

On Wednesday, November 12, we will feature a premiere of the film, Screenagers at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium. This film shows how the rise of the digital age has led to rapid increases in levels of mental health challenges among youth. This event is free and open to the public. 

Lastly, we will host the ACT 73 Forum with Representative Peter Conlon, at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday November 13th  in our Auditorium. The purpose of this event is to hear directly from Rep. Conlon on how education in Vermont may be restructured to better serve students more equitably across the state  and control costs into the future. Come to listen or to participate. You can submit questions in advance by clicking this link. Media Factory will also be streaming live from their Facebook feed. This legislative change has the potential to create big changes to Vermont’s educational landscape. We look forward to your participation and engagement. 

 

 

Last week I had the good fortune to participate in a professional learning opportunity sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). The Real Skills for Real Life Summit featured 35 presenters representing a dynamic mix of academia, research, neuroscience, and K–12 district leadership, bringing together both thought leaders and practitioners to bridge science and real-world educational practice. The general theme of the summit was to identify the critical skills needed for our students to adapt, innovate, and succeed in a rapidly changing world. As one presenter put it,  “More than ever before, what kids need now is to become better at learning. Generative AI is accelerating rapidly … Uncertainty is the new norm. … What can best protect and prepare our children is to help them become excellent at learning and adapting.” (Rebecca Winthrop, author of The Disengaged Teen). 

 

We know content knowledge is important for all learners, but even more critically, students must know how to integrate their knowledge in flexible, adaptive ways to solve complex problems, and collaborate with others in navigating real world challenges. These ideas are not new. They are the basis for what drove Vermont Schools toward passage of ACT 77, which calls for flexible pathways to graduate, personalized learning plans for all students in middle and high school, and authentic ways to demonstrate proficiency beyond the limiting metrics of test performance. 

 

While our schools have made progress in adapting to these ideals, fully realizing this student-centered vision will require additional investments in teacher professional learning and student support so as to continue to adapt curriculum and learning opportunities to align with these intended outcomes. To do so, we have structured our professional learning for staff in new ways this year, centering on Professional Learning Groups (PLGs) that provide dedicated time and space for educators to collaborate, reflect, and deepen their instructional practice. These groups allow staff to engage in continuous cycles of inquiry, align their work to district priorities, and build the capacity needed to bring personalized, authentic learning experiences to life for every student. 

 

Our ANWSD Portrait of a Graduate (POG) provides a basis for centering this work around the skills that matter, such as self-awareness and regulation, confidence and agency, community connection, innovative thinking, and effective communication. These competencies reflect not only what students should know, but also who they can become as independent, engaged, and resilient members of their communities. Our work this year aims to fully integrate the POG into the student experiences in our schools. 

 

FY27 Budget Planning Underway

As we begin planning for the FY27 budget, our rollover expenditure budget is estimated to increase by approximately 3.5% compared to last year. This rise is driven by factors such as salaries and benefits, inflation, and other state and federal pressures. Because this increase exceeds what current revenues can support, the district will need to make careful considerations and likely budget reductions to balance the budget while continuing to support our students and schools.

 

We are fortunate to have a one-time surplus available, which can be applied to help reduce the impact on taxpayers. The board will make a determination about whether to apply this surplus to the FY27 budget, shift it into our Education or Facilities reserve accounts, or some combination of the two. While this may provide some short-term relief, it is not a sustainable solution for the long term, making thoughtful financial planning essential.

 

We invite families and community members to learn more and share their input at the upcoming School Board meeting on Monday October 20th at 6:00 p.m. You can attend in person or join us via Zoom (password: ANWSD).

 

Your voice is an important part of this process as we work together to make responsible budget decisions for our district.

 

Vermont leaders are taking a hard look at how to strengthen our public education system, manage rising costs, and expand opportunities for every student. The Legislature, the Commission on the Future of Public Education, and the School District Redistricting Task Force are all working together to shape the next chapter for Vermont's schools.

To do this well, they want to hear directly from families, staff, and community members. Your perspective is essential in shaping decisions that will affect our students and schools for years to come.

They ask you to take 8–10 minutes to complete this statewide survey and share your voice. The feedback collected will provide critical guidance as Vermont charts the best path forward for public education.

 

Take the Survey Here

 

We invite families and community members to join us for an informal Community Conversation with ANWSD Leadership on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 6:00–7:00 PM at the Ferrisburgh Central School library.

There is no formal agenda—this is simply a chance to share your questions, feedback, and ideas directly with district leaders, including the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services, and Director of Learning. Light refreshments will be provided.

We hope to see you there!

Dear ANWSD Families,

We are so pleased to share that the school year is off to a wonderful start. Our classrooms are already full of energy, curiosity, and connection, and it has been great to see students settling into routines and diving into their learning. To help you stay informed and engaged, each school sends out a weekly newsletter with updates from principals, teachers, and staff. These newsletters highlight upcoming events, celebrations of student learning, and reminders families may find helpful. If you happen to miss one, don’t worry—they are always posted on the school websites so you can catch up at any time.

The Addison Northwest School District Board has also begun its work for the year. The board plays an important role in shaping the direction of our schools, and we encourage families to stay connected to their work. Agendas for all upcoming meetings are available on our district website. Each meeting is recorded so you can watch when it’s convenient, and once a month a meeting is streamed live through Media Factory. All recordings are posted online, making it easy to stay informed even if you cannot attend in person.

We have also received requests from parents for a reminder about our district’s protocols if law enforcement, including immigration officials, come to a school. It is important to note that we have not had any such visits at our school. However, protecting student privacy and ensuring safe access to education is our highest priority. Schools do not collect or share information about a student’s or family’s immigration status, and federal law (FERPA) protects student records. Law enforcement officials, including immigration officers, may not access students or school buildings unless they present a valid judicial warrant. If officers come to a school, administrators meet them in the office, document their credentials and paperwork, and contact the Superintendent’s Office and legal counsel before taking any action. Staff do not provide information about students or families, and parents are contacted once the Superintendent’s Office has been consulted. While staff cannot physically interfere with enforcement personnel, you can be assured that we will always follow careful steps designed to safeguard students and maintain schools as safe and welcoming places for learning

Here is our protocol in English, and here is our protocol in Spanish.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. 

Warmly,

Sheila Soule