Superintendent Updates

Dear ANWSD Families,

I wanted to share a few quick updates on this chilly Sunday morning. First, a reminder that these temperatures are genuinely dangerous. While we try not to delay or cancel school solely due to cold, the reality is that buses do not always operate consistently in conditions like these. That can result in delays where students are left waiting outside longer than usual, increasing the risk of frostbite.

We are often not aware of these issues until routes are underway, sometimes leaving students waiting unexpectedly. For these reasons, please do not have children waiting at the bus stop alone. Make sure they have access to a warm car or a nearby house to retreat to if a bus is delayed. Frostbite can occur in as little as 10 minutes in these temperatures. We will ensure that students are able to come directly into the building upon arrival. However, please do not drop students off earlier than usual, as staff may not be available to let them inside. Thank you for your understanding and support. If we do need to delay in the morning we will try to get word out as soon as possible. 

BUDGET UPDATE

The FY27 School Budget was approved by the board at their January 21 meeting. Our budget maintains student programming at current levels, allowing us to provide high-quality educational programs, academic and social/emotional supports, and enriching co-curricular, athletics, access to Career and Technical education, and advanced course offerings at the High School level. The expenditure budget increased by only 2.39% for a total of $28,314,179. Due to an unanticipated budget surplus in FY25, we were able to apply $1M to the bottom line resulting in per student spending at $15,647;  a 3.14% increase from last year. You can see the final budget presentation linked here and come to our Annual Meeting and Budget Presentation on March 2 at 5:00 in the VUMHS Library. 

The most challenging part of our budget is yet to come- that is making sure voters turn out on Town Meeting day, March 3, 2026! Our voter turn out is typically quite low. I would love for that to be different this year. Please take advantage of early voting to avoid missing the chance for your voice to be heard. 

SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

I hope that you are able to read the Principal’s weekly updates showing all the amazing things going on in our schools. Just this week a parent shared appreciation for the elementary PE Winter Olympics, noting the excitement and positive energy they’ve brought to the school. The experience has gone beyond physical education to include learning about world cultures, teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy competition. Bringing a global event into a small-school setting has created a memorable, joyful experience for students and a strong sense of connection and community. 

Coming up at our February 16 board meeting, Josh Brooks’ fifth-grade students will be sharing their learning about how governance and responsibility operate within social systems, using their own educational experiences as a lens. As part of this work, students created visual presentations showing how decision-making flows from the state level to schools and students. Families are invited to stop by the hallway outside the VUHS library before the 6 p.m. meeting, and then listen in as students present their own ideas for improving education in Vermont.

SCHOOL BOARD APPRECIATION MONTH

Lastly, February is School Board appreciation month. Serving on a school board is a significant act of public service—one that requires navigating complex issues, engaging deeply with policy, budgets, and governance, and making decisions that have lasting impact. Our board members volunteer countless hours to understand the work, ask hard questions, and thoughtfully represent the needs of our students, staff, and broader community. We are deeply grateful for their commitment and care.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. We are always happy to connect and support your family. Thank you for your ongoing engagement and partnership.

GO PATS! 

 

Dear ANWSD Families,

I am writing to share a brief update on the development of the FY27 school budget and highlight a few key details as the process continues to move forward.

Where we are in the process

The School Board is now reviewing the final budget details and will see the 4th draft of the budget at our Monday, January 12 meeting. The board then anticipates taking action on the proposed budget at its January 21st meeting, after which the budget will move forward to Town Meeting Day for a community vote. You can view the current budget presentation by clicking on the link below

Budget Presentation January 12, 2026

Key budget facts

• The proposed FY27 expenditure budget represents a 2.39% increase over FY26.
• Depending on how the board ultimately applies available surplus funds, per-pupil education spending would increase by either:
  • 2.81%, or
  • 4.13%

Educational priorities reflected in the FY27 budget
The FY27 budget was developed to support the following priorities:

• Maintaining high-quality instructional programs across all grade levels
• Preserving co-curricular and athletic opportunities that support student engagement and belonging
• Aligning staffing with class size policies while managing costs responsibly
• Meeting student support, special education, and safety obligations
• Strengthening social-emotional learning (SEL), multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and behavioral supports

These priorities guided budget decisions and helped shape how resources are allocated.

Understanding statewide tax factors
In Vermont, local school budgets are only one factor that influences education property taxes. Statewide mechanisms such as the Common Level of Appraisal (CLA) also play a significant role. The CLA is used by the state to align property values used for tax calculations with current market values. When property values change faster than reappraisals occur, the CLA can affect the tax rate applied to homes, regardless of changes in local school spending.

Because of this, even in years when a district’s local (Union) tax rate increases very little, or is close to flat, some property owners may still see increases on their tax bills due to statewide adjustments.

State discussions on property tax relief
Governor Scott has indicated that they are again exploring a statewide property tax “buydown” to help offset projected tax increases. Any such measure would require legislative approval and is separate from local school district budgeting decisions.

Use of surplus funds
The School Board is also continuing to consider how best to apply approximately $1.1 million in surplus funds. Options under discussion include using surplus to help reduce tax impacts, support one-time needs, or strengthen long-term financial stability. No final decisions have been made at this time.

Looking ahead
Additional budget information will be shared as it becomes available. We encourage families to attend the board meetings either remotely or in person, review budget materials on the district website,  and stay informed as we approach Town Meeting Day.

Thank you for your continued interest in and support of our schools.

Sincerely,
Sheila Soule
Superintendent, Addison Northwest School District

 

Superintendent Update Dec. 7, 2025

I can’t believe how quickly this school year seems to be going- how can it already be December? As a result of our two weather related calls this week - I wanted to follow up on the process for calling delays and cancellations. The last thing we ever want to do is 1) put students on dangerous roads in poor weather or 2) cancel or delay unnecessarily. This past week I feel like both of those things happened and for that I sincerely apologize. 

To begin, Vermont’s National Weather Service meteorologists hold Zoom briefings with Superintendents the night before and again early the morning of any potential weather event. After those calls, the Addison County Superintendents confer to determine a coordinated decision. This is important because we all share the same transportation provider and the same regional technical center. In addition, we each request updates from our local road crews, but frankly most do not respond to those inquiries, with Ferrisburgh being the consistent exception.

Despite all of that, the timing and severity of the storms can surprise us which was the case on both days this past week. Tuesday was much worse than expected in the early morning hours such that a delay or cancellation would have been better, and Thursday’s storm rolled in later than expected such that an on-time start would have been better. I sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding and hope that we can do better with any subsequent storms. As always, you should make the best decision for your family on any day the weather is challenging. 

To ensure you receive all communications seamlessly, please make sure your contact information is up-to-date in our system. Families can update their contact information by completing the back-to-school information updates through the PowerSchool Parent Portal at anwsd.powerschool.com/public. Contact your child’s school with questions.  Note that all phone call communications will come from telephone number (866) 788-4564. Make sure you set your phone preferences to receive calls from this number so that it is not marked as “spam”. This number cannot receive return calls. 

 

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.