Superintendent Updates
Superintendent Updates
![Superintendent Update: November 24, 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
Come Share Your Aspirations for the Future of ANWSD Schools
The Addison Northwest School District (ANWSD) School Board's Community Engagement Committee invites you to a unique roundtable discussion. Join us to voice your aspirations for the future of our schools and to learn how the school board helps set priorities that shape a strong, responsible budget for the upcoming year. The event will take place at the Vergennes Union High School on December 4th, 2024 beginning at 5:30. Dinner and childcare will be provided—please RSVP by November 27th.
Acknowledging the Past, Preparing for the Future
Last year's budget season was challenging, highlighting the need for greater community involvement in the decision-making process. This event represents our commitment to being proactive, ensuring that your voices are integral to shaping the budget and aligning it with the values of our community.
Vermont’s Evolving Education Funding Landscape
Understanding the complexities of school budgets requires insight into Vermont’s education funding system. Vermont’s model is unique, pooling funds statewide to promote equity, but it also presents challenges such as tax rate increases even when local budgets are frugal. As school districts create budgets, statewide factors like property value adjustments, changing student populations, and spending elsewhere can influence local tax bills. These complexities underscore the importance of collective community input to advocate for our shared goals and priorities.
For more on the intricacies of Vermont’s education funding, including recent changes to the system, review the Vermont Agency of Education’s comprehensive report on the topic.
Why Your Voice Matters
This roundtable is more than a conversation—it’s a step towards shared understanding and actionable outcomes. Whether you're a parent, teacher, student, or community member, your perspective helps create a budget that meets both educational goals and fiscal responsibility.
We look forward to your participation. Together, we can forge a path that honors our shared values and provides the best possible future for our students. RSVP today to join the discussion!
Sheila Soule
Dear Families,
We wanted to take a moment to inform you about the upcoming Title I family engagement opportunities at our schools. As a Title I school district, we receive federal funding to provide additional academic support and resources to help ensure all students have an equal opportunity to succeed.
What is Title I?
Title I is a federal program that provides financial assistance to schools with high numbers or percentages of children from low-income families. The goal of Title I is to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.
Some of the ways Title I funds are used in our school include:
- Hiring additional teachers and paraprofessionals to provide small group instruction
- Purchasing supplemental instructional materials and supplies
- Offering extended learning time programs in the summer months
- Providing professional development for teachers
- Hosting family engagement events and workshops
Why Family Engagement Matters
Family engagement is a critical component of Title I. Research shows that when families are actively involved in their children's education, students are more likely to:
- Earn higher grades and test scores
- Attend school regularly
- Have better social skills
- Graduate and go on to post-secondary education
That's why we encourage all our families to participate in the upcoming Title I engagement opportunities. This is your chance to:
- Learn more about the Title I program and how it supports your child's education
- Provide input on the school's Title I plan and budget
- Attend workshops and activities to help you support your child's learning at home
We hope you'll join us! Please see the schedule of upcoming Title I events below. We look forward to partnering with you.
Vergennes Union Elementary School: Tuesday, November 12 at 4:30pm
Ferrisburgh Central School: Tuesday, November 19 at 5pm
Vergennes Union Middle and High School: Monday, December 2 at 5pm
![Vermont Agency of Education Starts Public Engagement Phase of the Listen and Learn Tour]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1729181848/anwsdorg/tgpzlowml3tfws5jvwrg/download.png","width":225}])
Sheila Soule
The Vermont Agency of Education announced in a recent press release the next phase of the 2024 Listen and Learn Tour and invites the public to participate in community conversations to inform how the Agency delivers services and supports to Vermont’s education system.
These public engagement sessions will help the Agency develop its strategic plan and ensure that its work is supporting the educational priorities of communities across Vermont. Following a series of data reports and regional planning sessions with more than 250 education leaders, the Agency is eager to expand these conversations to include educators, parents, students, and community members across the state. The Agency encourages broad participation and welcomes input from all Vermonters, including students, families, and community partners - students are integral to these conversations and are encouraged to attend.
Each public engagement session will take place from 6:00 pm. to 8:00 pm at the below locations. Every session will begin with introductory information and data to support more in-depth conversations, followed by breakout sessions on topics related to student achievement and support, career and college readiness, and school budgets, among other emerging priorities. Detailed agendas will be provided on the Agency webpage closer to the events.
DATE
October 22 Woodstock Union Middle/High School
October 23 Mount Anthony Union High School
October 23 Stowe High School
October 28 Montpelier High School
October 28 West Rutland School
October 29 Lyndon Town School
October 30 Enosburg Falls High School
November 4 Virtual Meeting (ASL interpreter available)
November 6 Virtual Meeting (ASL interpreter available
Please check the Listen and Learn webpage to see the most up to date public engagement schedules, links for virtual sessions and information on language accessibility. While not required, pre-registration is encouraged using the online registration form, Listen and Learn Registration (cognitoforms.com). Please email aoe.publicinformation@vermont.
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 |
|
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