Superintendent Updates

We invite you to attend the Addison Northwest School District Board meeting on Monday at 6:00 PM in the library or via Zoom (link below). The board will review FY26 Budget Draft #4, with plans to approve the budget at the January 22 meeting.

Highlights of the proposed budget:

• Total Budget: $27,661,300 (a 1.51% increase from FY25).
• Key Priorities: Maintaining all educational offerings, narrowing achievement gaps, and supporting social-emotional development.
• Tax Impact: If approved, this budget is expected to result in a decrease in homestead tax rates, ranging from 1.58% to 7.87%.

Your participation matters as we finalize decisions that impact our schools and community.

Zoom Link: https://tinyurl.com/ANWSDBoard25
Password: ANWSD

We hope to see you there!

Check out the ANWSD Budget Page for more information

All are invited to join the ANWSD Community Engagement Committee for the "Your Voice, Your Schools" event on ZOOM ONLY on Monday, January 6, 2025 from 7:00 – 8:00pm.
 

Come share your aspirations for the future of our schools. Learn how the board helps the district set priorities to create a strong and responsible budget for the next year. A budget is a reflection of what we value as a community, and we look forward to your input and participation.  We will meet in small breakout rooms for group discussion. 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83130981492?pwd=nDWunikmxngFb4iBe0wBWa7du2mxXB.1

Meeting ID: 831 3098 1492
Passcode: ANWSD

 

We held our first Your Voice Your Schools session in-person on December 4, 2024.  You can see the notes from that session here:  CLICK LINK Learn more about how school budgets are funded in VT by watching this short VT Public video. 

 

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Please join us on January 6, 2025 and be a part of the conversation!

Join Us for the ANWSD Board Meeting to Review FY26 Budget Progress!

Dear ANWSD Families and Staff,

I’m pleased to share that we’ve made strong progress as we move forward with the FY26 budget process. Tomorrow evening, Monday, December 16, at 6 PM, the ANWSD Board of Directors will review Budget Presentation #3 during their meeting at the Vergennes Union Middle/High School Library.

We are optimistic about the proposed budget, which prioritizes:

• Maintaining our strong educational offerings, including world languages, the arts, athletics, and co-curricular opportunities.
• Ensuring all students, regardless of background or challenges, have access to the resources they need to succeed.
• Providing supports for academic growth, social-emotional development, and narrowing achievement gaps.
• Keeping spending below the excess spending threshold and reducing the tax burden with strategic use of our FY24 surplus.

Highlights from Budget Presentation #3 include:

• FY26 Budget Total: $27,834,102 (a 2.14% increase from FY25)
• Application of $800,000 from the FY24 surplus to reduce taxes.
• A projected tax decrease from FY25 ranging from 1.99% to 8.44% across all five towns 

The meeting will be streamed live on Media Factory’s Facebook page and on Zoom. You can access the Zoom link here: https://tinyurl.com/ANWSDBoard25 (Password: ANWSD). Your input matters, and we encourage you to participate in this important conversation about our district’s future.

Thank you for your ongoing support of our schools and students. Together, we’re building a strong foundation for a thriving learning community. Enjoy the upcoming winter break. I hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable time with your family and friends. 

Warm regards,
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.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

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!

 

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