FY25 Annual Report

Weenvisionakind,collaborative,andcreativecommunityforall thatnurturesadiverseandaccessiblelearningenvironment. Studentswillflourishascriticalthinkersandproductivecitizens, cultivatingresilienceinanever-changingworld.

April26,2017,Boardadopted;reaffirmedJune14,2021

TheSuperintendentandDirectorsoftheAddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrictwishtoreassurethemembersof oureducationalcommunityintheseuncertaintimes.Weremaincommittedtomaintainingsafeand welcomingschoolsregardlessofrace,gender,disability,nationalorigin,documentation,religion,sexual orientation,politicalorientation,orfamilyincome.Inadditiontocompliancewiththelaw,wealsohavea moralandethicaldutytoprotectallwhopassthroughthedoorsofourschoolsandtoprovideourstudents withanequitableeducation.

TheBoardemphaticallyendorsesandsupportsalearningenvironmentandsharedcommunityvoidof hate,bias,bigotry,andracism.WecondemnwhitesupremacyandunequivocallybelievethatBlacklives matter.WechargethemembersoftheANWSDcommunitywithcreatingasafe,civil,andkindlearning environment.Everyone--parents,students,staff,boardmembers,communitymembers--musttake seriouslytheneedtospeakopenlyagainsthateofallkinds.Wewillrecognize,respondto,andredressbias andinequitiesinoursystems,policies,andpractices.Wewillcreateandsustainanequitablelearning environmentinwhichwetreatoneanotherwithrespectanddignity.Wecaneachleadthroughexample, andwiththisstatementtheANWSDBoardherebyreaffirmsitscommitmenttoprovidinganequitable,just, andinclusivelearningenvironmentforallstudents.

December14,2020,Boardadopted

ANWSD

Polling

VOTE: March5,2024

&

ToRegistertoVote:

Registrationisavailableduringallnormalbusinesshours ofyourtown/cityclerk’sofficeondaysprecedingthe electionandduringpollinghoursonElectionDay. Oryoumayalsoregisteronline-https://olvr.vermont.gov/

Absentee&EarlyVotingBallots:

BallotswillbeavailablebyFebruary14,2024fromyour town/cityclerk’soffice. Allrequestsmustbesubmittedby 5PMorbythecloseofthetownclerk’sofficeontheday beforetheelection. Allballotsmustbereturnedtothe townclerk’sofficebeforethecloseoftheofficeontheday beforetheelection,ortothepollingplacebefore7PMon thedayoftheelection,inordertobecounted.

GLOSSARYOFACRONYMS&TERMS

ACP AddisonConsortiumProgram

ANWSD AddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrict

AOE AgencyofEducation

FCS FerrisburghCentralSchool

PAHCC PatriciaA.HannafordCareerCenter

VUES VergennesUnionElementarySchool

CSAC CounselingServiceofAddisonCounty VUMHS VergennesUnionMiddle&HighSchool

Act173

BoardofEducation

CapitalSpending

CIP-Continuous ImprovementPlan

CLA–CommonLevelof Appraisal

CTE–CareerandTechnical Education

CollaborativeTeaching (Co-Teaching)

DebtService

E-Rate

EEE-EssentialEarly Education

Anactrelatingtoenhancingtheeffectiveness,availabilityandequityofservicesprovidedto studentswhorequireadditionalsupport.

Activitiesoftheelectedbodythathasbeencreatedaccordingtostatelawandvestedwith responsibilitiesforeducationalactivitiesinagivenadministrativeunit.

Long-termfundforplannedfacilityneeds,warnedasaseparateArticleontheballot.

Theprocesscycleofschoolimprovementwiththemajorcomponentsofcreatingthevision, gatheringdatarelatedtothatvision,analyzingthedata,planningtheworkoftheschooltoalign withthevision,implementingthestrategiesandactionstepsoutlinedintheplan,andgathering datatomeasuretheimpactoftheintervention.

Amethodusedbythestateinanattempttotaxpropertiesbasedonfairmarketvaluesincetowns cangomanyyearsbetweenre-appraisals.

Aneducationalprogramleadingtoahighschooldiploma,designedtoprovidestudentswith careerandtechnicalknowledge,skills,andattitudesthatwillpreparethemforfurthereducation, enhancetheiremploymentoptions,orleadtoanindustry-recognizedcredential.

Ateachingstrategyinwhichtwoormoreteachersworktogether,sharingresponsibilitiestohelpall studentssucceedintheclassroom.

Theamountoffundsrequiredtocovertherepaymentoftheinterestandprincipalofadebt(loan, bond,lease,etc.)

TheuniversalserviceSchoolsandLibrariesProgramprovidesdiscountsofupto90percenttohelp eligibleschoolsandlibrariesintheUnitedStatesobtainaffordabletelecommunicationsand internetaccess.

Children,agesthreethroughfiveyearsold,whoqualifyforEssentialEarlyEducationreceivespecial educationandrelatedservices,providedbytheirschooldistrict,tomeettheirindividualneeds.

ELA EnglishLanguageArts

EQS–EducationQuality Standards

ESSER

EST–EducationalSupport Team

EducationFund

EducationSpending

FiscalServices

ThepurposeoftheserulesistoensurethatallstudentsinVermontpublicschoolsareafforded educationalopportunitiesthataresubstantiallyequalinqualityandenablethemtoachieveor exceedthestandardsapprovedbytheStateBoardofEducation.

ElementaryandSecondarySchoolEmergencyReliefPrograms-toaddresstheimpactthatthe NovelCoronavirusDisease2019(COVID-19)hashad,andcontinuestohave,onelementaryand secondaryschoolsacrosstheNation.

Writtenplandocumentingastudent’slearningorbehavioralchallengesandwaysteacherscan helpthestudenttobesuccessfulinclasses.ThisplanisdevelopedbytheEducationalSupport Teambasedoninputfromteacherswhohaveworkedwiththestudent.Inputfromotherservice providersandparents,andtestresultsmayalsobeusedindevelopinganESTPlan.

Vermontpaysforeducationthroughthestate’seducationfund.Therearefourprimarysourcesof moneythatcomprisethefund:revenuetransferfromthegeneralfund,generalpurposetaxes, nonresidentialpropertytaxes,andhomesteadpropertytaxes.Source:VSBA,MakingSenseof Vermont’sEducationFundingSystem

Definedasallofthemoneythataschooldistricthasdeterminedisnecessarytospendinthe schoolyear,lessanyoffsettingrevenue

❖ Totaldistrictbudgetless‘non-taxrevenues’suchasfederalandstategrantsaswellas locally-generatedrevenuessuchastuitionandinterest

Activitiesconcernedwiththefiscaloperationsoftheschooldistrict. Includesbudgeting,receiving anddisbursing,financialandpropertyaccounting,payroll,inventorycontrol,internalauditing, investmentsandfundsmanagement.

FY–FiscalYear

Theschooldistrictoperates,budgetsandaccountsforrevenueandexpensesona12-monthfiscal year,whichbeginsJuly1st andendsthefollowingJune30th GeneralFund

IDEA–Individualswith DisabilitiesEducationAct

IEP–Individualized EducationPlan

LongTermAverageDaily Membership

MTSS-Multi-TierSystemof Supports

Themainoperatingfundoftheschooldistrict.

Alawthatguaranteeseducationalrightstoallstudentswithdisabilitiesandmakesitillegalfor schooldistrictstorefusetoeducateastudentbasedonhisorherdisability.

Adocumentdescribinganeducationalprogramdesignedtomeetastudent’sindividualneeds.An IEPincludesadescriptionofastudent’sstrengths,challenges,andneeds,servicesthatwillbe provided,accommodationsnecessarytoallowthestudenttolearn,andspecificgoalsbasedona student’sneeds.EverystudentwhoiseligibleforspecialeducationmusthaveanIEP.

Atwo-yearweightedaverageofAverageDailyMembership.

❖ AverageDailyMembershipisacountofresidentandstate-placedstudentswhoreceive anelementary(includingEEEandPreK)orsecondaryeducation(7-12)atpublicexpense

❖ Residentstudentsarecountedduringtheperiodfromthe11thtothe30thdayofthe currentschoolyear,whilestate-placedstudentsarecountedfortheschoolyearpriorto thecurrentcensusperiod.

Atieredframework,whichpromotesschoolimprovementthroughengaging,research-based academicandbehavioralpractices.

Tier1=Coreclassroominstruction

Tier2=Targetedsmallgroupinstruction

Tier3=Intensiveindividualintervention

PanoramaEducation

PCBTesting

Anindependenteducationtechnologycompanythatpartnerswithschoolsanddistrictstosupport studentliteracyandsocial-emotionallearning(SEL).Schoolsanddistrictsuseourtechnologyto gatherfeedbackfromstudents,families,andeducators.

PolychlorinatedBiphenyls-schoolsbuiltorrenovatedbefore1980willberequiredtotestforPCBs. Theman-madechemicals,whichwerebannedfromusein1979,areconsideredcancer-causing agentsandhavebeenassociatedwithnervous,immune,reproductiveandendocrinesystem healtheffects,particularlyforthosewhosebodiesarestilldevelopingorthosewhohavehad exposureoverlongperiods.

PBGR-Proficiency-Based GraduationRequirements

PBIS-PositiveBehavior InterventionsandSupports

PLP–PersonalizedLearning Plan

PropertyYield

Revenue

SEL

SLP–Speech-Language Pathologist

Asetofcontentknowledgeandskillsconnectedtostatestandardsthat,whensupplementedwith anyadditionallocallydevelopedrequirements,havebeendeterminedtoqualifyastudentfor earningahighschooldiploma.

Aproactiveapproachtoestablishingthebehavioralsupportsandsocialcultureneededforall studentsinaschooltoachievesocial,emotionalandacademicsuccess.

Establishesindividualstudentgoalsbasedonacademicandcareerobjectivesandpersonal interests;sequencescontentandskilldevelopmenttoachievethosegoalsandensurethata studentcangraduatecollegeandcareer-ready;andisupdatedbasedoninformationabout studentperformanceinavarietyoflearningexperiences-includingassessments-thatindicate progresstowardsgoals.

Theestimatedamountdistrictshavetospendperpupiltohaveanequalizedtaxrateof$1.00while generatingenoughmoneyfortheState’sEducationFund.

Referstoreceiptsfromalltaxes,fees,licenses,andpermitsasestablishedincurrentlaw,andany othersourcesofincomeincludingfederalfunding.

SocialEmotionalLearning-theprocessofdevelopingtheself-awareness,self-control,and interpersonalskillsthatarevitalforschool,work,andlifesuccess.

Aprofessionalwhodiagnosesandtreatscommunicationandswallowingdisorders.

STEM Science,Technology,EngineeringandMathematics

UDL

UniversalDesignforLearning–aframeworktoimproveandoptimizeteachingandlearningforall peoplebasedonscientificinsightsintohowhumanslearn.

VSBIT VermontSchoolBoardsInsuranceTrust

VTCAP VermontComprehensiveAssessmentProgramistoassessstudentsingrades3through9in EnglishLanguageArts(ELA)andMathandstudentsingrades5,8,and11inScience. TheELAand mathematicsassessmentsmeasuretheCommonCoreStateStandards(CSSS)forEnglishand mathematics,respectively.ThescienceassessmentmeasurestheNextGenerationScience Standards(NGSS).

MESSAGEFROMTHESCHOOLBOARD

Dear Members of the Addison Northwest School DistrictCommunity,

The Addison Northwest School District vision includes the belief that it is important to “cultivate resilience in an ever-changing world.” The ANWSD Board sincerely thanks administrators, teachers, and staff who work diligently to create excellent educational opportunities for all of our students. We also thank our students and their families foryourcontinuedresilienceandkindness tooneanother.

An ANWSD Boardprioritygoalistocontinuetomaintain and nurture excellent educational programs for our students at a cost acceptabletoourtaxpayerswhileat the same time working toward long-term structural stability. There are many new faces and a lot of transitions. We have one new first-time member to the Board in 2023 - Chrystal Little (Vergennes). Overall, our focus this year has been to consider goals related to improving student academic achievement in literacy, determining pathways that lead to greater student engagement, belonging, and safety, and addressing issues of equity within District practices to ensure all studentsfeelconnectedandreachtheirfullpotential.

Accomplishments

Personally, I would like to take the opportunity to thank our Student Representatives on the Board: Zoe Reid-St. John, Calvin Gramling, Grey Fearon, and QuincySabick. Grey and Quincy arenewtotheBoardthisyear,andwe are all betterofffortheirparticipation.TheVSBA’sGuide to Student VoiceinEducationGovernancestates“Inthe big picture, we all benefit by having young people engaged in the institutions of a democratic society”

(pg. 3). If you see Zoe, Cal, Grey, and Quincy, please thank them for their service. I would also like to thank Kristina MacKulin (Ferrisburgh) for her service to this Board by representing us on the Patricia A Hannaford’s Career Center Board, as well as Dan Rossignol, who representsourentireDistrictat-large.

Over the year, the Board achieved a number of accomplishments. Our Community Engagement Committee, led this year by Mike Kane (Vergennes), is considering and describing a set ofattributesandskills that we want our students to be able to demonstrate upon graduation. This Portrait ofaGraduateprojectwill engage our community in conversations to articulate an image of the overall educational experience we desire for our students. This work builds on successful community events in Spring, 2023 especially the Together in Belonging Community Discussion in May which focused on how our students experience school connectionandsafety.

After many years of deliberation and discussion, the Board has officially transferred the Addison School Building to the Town of Addison. In other facilities work, the Facilities Committee, led by Amy Kittredge (Addison), further developed the District's Facilities Stewardship Plan as well as supporting the District’s ongoing safety policies and practices. They have been workingonanMOUwiththeTownofFerrisburgh.Weare especially grateful to seethecompletionofamulti-use trail created on District and City property that will be a greatbenefittostudentsandcommunitymembers.

The Policy Committee, led by Mimi Clark (Waltham), continued its ongoing review of current policies. The Board is committed to reviewing every single policy at least once every five years to ensure that our policies are updated to meet the District’s needs, and Vermont and Federal law.TheCommitteecreatedandtheBoard approved four new policies, removed one redundant policy, and revisedfourteencurrentpolicies.Inaddition, the Committee continues to monitorrequiredreporting

and procedures to align with the goals of the Board’s strategicplanandpolicies.

The Finance Committee, led by Laurie Childers (Addison),ensuredthatANWSD’sfiduciaryresponsibility to the electorate was fulfilled. The Finance committee reviews the billsanddirectors'ordersmonthlyforsound accounting practices. The Committee also worked throughout the budgeting process to learn about budget drivers and District needs to make recommendations on capital expenditures and budgeting for the overall health of the District’s finances.

Finally, the Board completed negotiations withboththe teacher and support staff unions which support the goals of the Board’s strategic plan. In addition, we extended the contract with our Superintendent. All together, these negotiated contract agreements are confirmeduntil2026.

BudgetandAustralianVotes

This proposed budget makes strategic investments to support professional learning for our staff and faculty, and supports efforts to meet student social and emotional needs. The proposed FY25 of $28,232,078 which is 11.5% increase from the FY24 budget. This will result in an estimated $15,747 long-term weighted per pupil. These increases are mainly due to increases in salaries and benefits, especially healthcare.

Transportation costs have also increased at double digit rates. However, our expected union taxratewillbe $1.6182, which is a 5% increase from the current rate. However, with the spike in real estate prices, Common Levels of Appraisals (CLAs) across our region (and indeed the State) have dramatically shifted whichputs added pressureontaxrates.Withinflationarypressures on fixed costs as well as necessary pay and benefit increases, the Board believes this budget will keep the District competitive with other regional employers. As always, we remaincommittedtoensuringourbuildings are maintainedingoodcondition.Article#7asksvoters to approve placing FY23 surplus fundsintheamountof $1,202,107.61 into the capital improvement funds to address items on the District's Facilities Stewardship Plan.

We remain committed to working closely with all ANWSD stakeholders to chart a course toward the best possible education for our students. We still face many challenges, but there is much toadmireinthisDistrict.I am exceedingly grateful that thisDistrictanditspeople are a tight-knit, caring community willing to support one another in times of need. Please join us at future board meetings and community engagement events, andvisitourwebsiteforadditionalinformation.

RespectfullysubmittedonbehalfoftheANWSDBoardof Directors,

JohnStroup,BoardChair

ANWSDBOARDOFDIRECTORS&DISTRICTOFFICERS

TheAddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrictBoardincludes12SchoolDirectorselectedtorepresentourfivecommunities: Addison,Ferrisburgh,Panton,Vergennes,andWaltham

TheBoardprovidesfiscaloversight,policydevelopment,andotherresourcestoenableteachers,administrators,and staffmemberstopreparestudentstomeetstandardssetbythestateandfederalagencies.

TheSchoolBoardmeetsonthesecondandthirdMondayofeachmonth. Meetingsstartat6:00p.m. Acomplete schedulecanbefoundontheSchoolBoardpageoftheANWSDwebsite.

JohnStroup Chair TermExpires–2025 Vergennes jstroup@anwsd.org

ChrisKayhart ViceChair TermExpires–2026 Ferrisburgh ckayhart@anwsd.org

KristinaMacKulin Clerk TermExpires–2024 Ferrisburgh kmackulin@anwsd.org

EricaAndrus Member TermExpires-2024 Ferrisburgh eandrus@anwsd.org

NicoleBearor Member TermExpires–2025 Ferrisburgh nbearor@anwsd.org

LaurieChilders Member TermExpires–2024 Addison lchilders@anwsd.org

MimiClark Member TermExpires–2025 Waltham mclark@anwsd.org

MarthaDeGraaf Member TermExpires–2026 Panton mdegraaf@anwsd.org

MichaelKane Member TermExpires–2025 Vergennes mkane@anwsd.org

AmyKittredge Member TermExpires–2026 Addison akittredge@anwsd.org

MarkKoenig Member TermExpires–2024 Vergennes mkoenig@anwsd.org

ChrystalLittle Member TermExpires–2026 Vergennes clittle@anwsd.org

GreyFearon StudentRepresentative

DavidTatlock Moderator TermExpires-2024

CalGramling StudentRepresentative TaraBrooks DistrictClerk TermExpires-2024

ZoeReid-St.John StudentRepresentative GregBurdick Treasurer TermExpires-2024

QuincySabick StudentRepresentative

MESSAGEFROMTHESUPERINTENDENTOFSCHOOLS

DearCommunityMembers:

I am pleased to share the latest developments in our schools with you in our Annual Report. It is a privilege to collaborate with the dedicated individuals on our board, administration, teachers, and support staff who consistently invest their time and effort to enhance the educational experience for all students in the Addison Northwest School District. The purpose of our Annual Report is to offer all constituents a comprehensive overview of our proposed budgetandtheeducationalprogramsitisdesignedtosupport.

We carefully construct the budget through collaborative efforts involving building and central office administrators, incorporating insights from staff, and incorporating feedback from the school board. Our unwavering commitment is to prioritize students at the core of our decision-making processes. The lasting impacts of the pandemic persist in our schools, particularly affecting ouryoungest learners as they transition into public school. The aftermath of the pandemic has led to a sustained increase in both academic and behavioral support needs across all levels of our educational system.

BUDGETPRIORITIESFOR2024-2025

● Maintain Academic Program Offerings: We sustain all current academic programs to continue to provide a robustlearningexperienceforallstudents.

● Preserve Co-Curricular and Enrichment Activities: Our commitment extends to maintaining co-curricular, athletics,andenrichmentactivitiesthatcontributetotheholisticdevelopmentofourstudents.

● Enhance PreK Early Learning Program: We acknowledge the impacts of the pandemic on early learning and proposeenhancedsupportforourPreKprogramtoaddressthesechallenges.

● Improve Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: We continue many of the academic and behavioral interventions initiatedafterthepandemictoclosetheachievementgapbetweenpeergroups.

● ProvideWageIncreasesforFacultyandStaff: To attract and retainemployees,wecommittowageincreases aspernewthree-yearcontractstoremaincompetitiveintheregion.

BUDGETPROPOSAL

The proposed 2024-25 budget of $28,232,078 represents an 11.4% increase from the FY24 budget. We anticipate a uniontaxrateof$1.6182,a5%increasefromthecurrent rate, yet still lower than the average tax rate in the previous 8 years.Ourspendingis estimated to be $15,747 per pupil, a 5.72% increase per current weighting formulas. Additionally, $528,482.96 will be added to the Education Reserve Fund, and $1,202,107.61 will be added to the Capital Improvement Fund, to address targeted projectsorexpenseswhennecessaryifapprovedbytheElectorate.

BUDGETCHALLENGES

Despite our commitment to excellence, we face several challenges, including inflation, declining enrollment, higher transportation costs, universal school meals, loss of Federal funding, increases in insurance costs, and ongoing debt paymentsonpastbondsforcapitalimprovements.

The Addison Northwest School District operates three school buildingswiththefollowingconfigurationsforschoolyear 2024-25:

● FerrisburghElementarySchool,PreK-5thGrade

● VergennesElementarySchool,K-5thGrade

● VergennesUnionMiddleSchool,Grades6-8

● VergennesUnionHighSchool,Grades9-12

In total, we have 853 students enrolled in grades PreK-12 this year- a drop from 893 last year. For the 2024-25 school year, enrollment is projected to increase by an additional 3studentsforanestimatedtotalenrollmentof856. Ensuring a high-quality education for all our students continues tobethefundamentalmissionoftheAddisonNorthwestSchool District. Despite the ongoing challenge of declining enrollment, preserving our diverse range of educational programs hasbeenaprimaryfocusoverthepastseveralyears.

During the upcoming school year, we will transitionour6thgradetothemiddleschool. Expandingthemiddleschoolto include grades 6-8 is driven by several educational considerationsanddevelopmentalfactorsthataimtobetterserve students during a critical phase of their academic and personal growth. The middle school years represent a crucial developmental period in students' lives. This phase is characterized by significant cognitive, emotional, physical, and social changes. An expanded middle school allows for an educational environment tailored to the specific needs and developmental stages of students during this critical time. We are excited aboutthepositivechangesthiswillbringfor ourstudents.

We appreciate your time spent reviewing this report to gain deeper insights into the schools you support. On Town Meeting Day, we kindlyseekyourendorsementofthebudgetandotherballotarticles.Ourheartfeltgratitudeextendsto the entire communityforyourenduringdedicationtoourstudents.Yourfeedbackandquestionsareinvaluable,andwe encourage ongoing communication. As your Superintendent, I takeprideinservingourcommunityandamgratefulfor thetrustandsupportyoubestowuponallofusatANWSD.

Withappreciation,

SheilaM.Soule,M.A.Ed. SuperintendentofSchools

ANWSDADMINISTRATION

SHEILA SOULE Superintendent

ELIZABETH JENNINGS Directorof Finance& Operations

PETER GARRECHT InterimDirector ofStudent SupportServices

GABRIEL HAMILTON Directorof Learning

KIMBERLY HUNT Coordinatorfor Equity&Inclusion

GARY WRIGHT Directorof Buildings, Grounds,& Safety

RAE DONOVAN Principal

MATTHEW

DEBLOIS Principal

COLDEN GOLANN MSPrincipal

BETH BEAROR Asst.Principal

JODY CHAMBERLIN HSPrincipal

ANWSDSTAFFDIRECTORY

ANWSD-CentralOffice

First

Rachel Cornellier AdministrativeAssistanttoStudentServices

Jody Delisle Payroll&BenefitsAdministrator

Peter Garrecht InterimDirectorofStudentSupportServices

Gabriel Hamilton DirectorofLearning

Kimberly Hunt CoordinatorforEquity&Inclusion

Elizabeth Jennings DirectorofFinance&Operations

April Jennings FiscalAnalyst

Dan Jewell AccountsPayableSpecialist

Glory Martin ExecutiveAssistanttotheSuperintendent

Sheila Soule SuperintendentofSchools

Melissa Strong DataManager

ANWSD-DistrictWideStaff

First

William Bradford MaintenanceElectrician

Brianna Ettori SchoolPsychologist

Robert Hall Asst.DirectorofBuildings,Grounds&Safety

Thomas Haselton TechnologySupportSpecialist

Asia Kruse DirectorofAfterSchool&SummerPrograms

John Picanza TechnologySupportSpecialist

Brianne Wells SchoolPsychologist

Timothy White TechnologySystemsAdministrator

Gary Wright DirectorofBuildings,Grounds&Safety

AfterSchoolProgram/ChildCare

ANWSDEarlyEducationProgram

Dianne Bingham Paraeducator

Sara Donnelly Paraeducator

Allison Eddy Paraeducator

Laurie Eglintine Paraeducator

Riley Fifield Paraeducator

Jennifer Gernander Teacher-EEESpecialEducator

Alison Matot Teacher-Preschool

Angela Paquette Paraeducator

Marcie Tierney Teacher-Preschool

Olivia

Madeline

Allison Eddy PreschoolAftercareCoordinator Reese Paquette ChildCareAssistant

Kristen Fairbrother ChildCareAssistant Jenna Paquin ChildCareAssistant

Madison Graves ChildCareAssistant Jackie Russett ChildCareAssistant Mavis Shepard AssistantDirector

FerrisburghCentralSchool

First

Erin Ackerman LibraryMediaSpecialist

Sarah Anderson SchoolNutritionManager

Stephanie Ansley Paraeducator

Anthony Barrett HeadCustodian

Randi Barry Teacher-Elementary

Jake Bell Paraeducator

Susan Brileya SchoolCounselor

Jamie Bunde SchoolNurse

Riley Cunningham SchoolNutritionAssistant

Rachael Donovan Principal

Judy Elson Teacher-Elementary

Kristen Fairbrother PersonalCareAssistant

Madison Graves Paraeducator

Michelle Houghton Teacher-LiteracyInterventionist

Alicia Jerome Paraeducator

Morgan Kathan Teacher-ElementaryPhysicalEd.

Lydia Kenney Teacher-Elementary

Hannah Lucarelli SpeechLanguagePathologist

Priscilla May Teacher-ElementaryArt

Jocelyn Noble Teacher-Elem.Music/Paraeducator

Kaci Pierce Teacher-Elementary

Kathleen Pudvar Teacher-Elementary

Megan Rogers Teacher-Elementary

Molly Struhammer Teacher-MathInterventionist

Kaitlyn Flynn Principal'sConfidentialAdmin.Asst. Nicole Therrien Paraeducator

Anthony Francescutti Teacher-Elementary

Emily Gagnon Teacher-Elementary

Margo Grace SpecialEducator

VergennesUnionElementarySchool

Margaret Ahern SpecialEducator

April Ambrose Teacher-Elementary

Sean Balon Paraeducator

Beth Bearor AssistantPrincipal

Samara Bissonette Teacher-Elementary

Lorri Blais SchoolNutritionAssistant

Elizabeth Brisson SpecialEducator

Joshua Brooks Teacher-Elementary

Millie-Jean Castillo Paraeducator

Laura Cavazos Teacher-Elementary

Rachel Connor Paraeducator

Julie Cousino Teacher-ElementaryArt

Matthew DeBlois Principal

Kristin DeGraaf Paraeducator

Allison Dwinell Teacher-Elementary

Michelle Eckels Teacher-Elementary

Elisabeth Estey SchoolNutritionManager

Jennifer Fetters SpeechLanguagePathologist

Amy Foley LibraryMediaSpecialist

Randall Gaboriault Custodian

Lissa Gebo SchoolNutritionAssistant

William Thompson Paraeducator

Stacy Valcourt SpecialEducator

Tricia VanVliet Teacher-Elementary

Melissa Haggett Teacher-Elementary

Matthew Hotte HeadCustodian

Emily Intemann Teacher-Kindergarten

Melissa Jarmel Paraeducator

Susan Jerome Custodian

Sandra Kayhart SchoolClimateFacilitator

Samantha Kepes Teacher-Elementary

Melanie King Teacher-MathInterventionist

Jennifer Kingsley Teacher-Elementary

Joaninha Kitoko SchoolNutritionAssistant

Taylor Krupp Teacher-Elementary

Linda Larocque SpecialEducator

Wanda Loven Paraeducator

Megan Marsh Teacher-LiteracyInterventionist

Patricia Martin Paraeducator

Susanna Mason Teacher-EnglishLanguageLearner

Maryrose Maynard PersonalCareAssistant

Christopher Melnyk Teacher-Elementary

Colleen Metzler Teacher-Elementary

Justin Morrison Teacher-MathInterventionist

Holly Mugford Teacher-ElementaryMusic

First

Melanie Mulliss Teacher-LiteracyInterventionist

Alyshia Murphy SchoolCounselor

Angela Shugart AdministrativeAssistant

Anna Smith Teacher-ElementaryHealthEducator

Robyn Newton Teacher-ElementaryPhysicalEd. Shelby Sullivan Nurse

Sarah Oemcke SchoolSocialWorker

Nicole Paquette Teacher-Elementary

Heather Racine Teacher-Elementary

Lynne Rapoport CommunityCoord.forHealth&Wellness

Lisa Razo SpeechLanguagePathologist

Amy Tewksbury SpecialEducator

Tara Trudo Teacher-MathInterventionist

Patricia Vincent Paraeducator

Denise Walther Paraeducator

Sarah Warner SpecialEducator

Kathryn Reardon Teacher-Elementary Lisa Whitley Paraeducator

Kimberly Robinson Teacher-Elementary Cherise Woods Paraeducator

Jacqueline Russett Paraeducator-GeneralEducation

Alyssa Saunders Teacher-Kindergarten

VergennesUnionMiddle&HighSchool

First

Ryan Adreon Paraeducator

Mindi Armell Paraeducator

Gwen Zwickel Teacher-LiteracyInterventionist

Christine Gingras Teacher-STEM/TechIntegration

Colden Golann MiddleSchoolPrincipal

Alexandria Benfatti AthleticTrainer/Asst.AthleticDir. David Grabin Teacher-SocialStudies

Ralph Bernardini Teacher-MSMath

Patrick Bessette Custodian

Gerald Grant Custodian

Nan Guilmette Teacher-MSSocialStudies

Sarah Bicknell Principal'sConfidentialAdmin.Asst. Carlie Guinane Teacher-Art

Timothy Blanshard Custodian

Jeremy Brooks Teacher-SAILSProgram-Science

Mark Brouillard HeadCustodian

Jamie Bryant SchoolNutritionAssistant

Jerry Bushey Custodian

June Hallock Paraeducator

Steven Haney SpecialEducator

Kevin Hayes AthleticGroundskeeper

Laura Husk SpecialEducator

Carmen Jochum SchoolNutritionManager

Michelle Chamberlain StudentAttendance/OfficeAsst. Lynn Kayhart Teacher-Mathematics

Jody Chamberlin Principal

Karyn Choromanski Teacher-Phy. Education&Health

Andy Kepes Teacher-Science

Janet Kepes Teacher-WorldLanguage

Tori Cleiland SpecialEducator Kristine Kirkaldy Teacher-WorldLanguage

Rebecca Coffey Teacher-SocialStudies

Sarah Cook Teacher-PhysicalEducation

Erica Curtis Chef/Co-Manager

Phoebe deNoronha Teacher-MSHumanities

Sara Driscoll Paraeducator

Susan Dunne SpecialEducator

Rebecca Ebel SpecialEducator

Rebecca Edelman SchoolCounselor

Mateo Ellerson BehavioralInterventionist

Brent Francis Teacher-Science

Louise Gallagher Paraeducator

Charles Kornman Teacher-SocialStudies/CBL

Angela Kunkel LibraryMediaSpecialist

John Langer Custodian

Lisa Lawrence SchoolNutritionAssistant

Patricia Leone Paraeducator

Anna Macijeski Teacher-Art

Allison Mahoney Teacher-LanguageArts

Peter Maneen DirectorofStudentActivities

Parker Mann Teacher-Instrumental

Anissa Martin BehaviorAssistant

Susanna Mason Teacher-EnglishLanguageLearner

Laura Giannini Paraeducator

Michael Merrigan Custodian

Melissa Muzzy Teacher-MSScience

Sean Nary Teacher-MSMath

Cailin O'Hara Teacher-Choral

Susan Oliveira SchoolCounselor

Meghan Olsen SpecialEducator

Heather Paquin SpecialEducator

Irena Pavlin TeacherMathematics

Elizabeth Payeur Teacher-MSEnglishLang.Arts

Samuel Pettorini Teacher-MathInterventionist

Stacy Raphael Teacher-EnglishLanguageArts

Emily Rossier Teacher-SELCoord.

Matthew Samuels Teacher-MSSocialStudies

Gabriel Schechter Teacher-Mathematics

Matthew Schlein Teacher-WaldenProgram

Debbi Smith Admin.Asst.-Facilities&Operations

PositionsbyCategory

Samantha McKosky SpecialEducator

Juliette Snell Paraeducator

Scott Stearns Custodian

Karl Steen Teacher-LanguageArts

Jay Stetzel SchoolCounselor-MiddleSchool

Glenn Story Teacher-DriversEd.

Michael Thomas Teacher-LanguageArts

Sarah Thompson Teacher-Science

Camie Thompson Teacher-WaldenProgram

Kyle Vickers Teacher-Health/PE

Anne Vincent Secretary-GuidanceOffice

Wendy Watson SpeechLanguagePathologist

Melissa Wellikoff DeanofStudentEngagement

Jaime Wells LeadNurse

Laura Williams Teacher-MSScience

April Wortmann DirectorofSchoolCounseling

Christopher Wyckoff Teacher-LanguageArts

Alllicensedprofessionals–teachers, counselors,specialeducators,SLP,nurses, librarymediaspecialists

Non-unionstaff–administrativesupport, districtwidemanagers,technology

SCHOOLREPORTS

FERRISBURGHCENTRALSCHOOL

RaeDonovan,Principal

PointsofPride

Last spring, we had some wonderful opportunities to connectwithourgreatercommunity:

● The 6th graders attended Social Justice Festat VUMHS.

● Kindergarteners and first graders hadaspecial visit from Miss Vermont who came to read aloudtothem.

● The 5th and 6th graders learned about composting and recycling from the Addison CountySolidWasteWorkshop.

● The whole school attended a field trip to ShelburneMuseum.

● The Kindergarten and 1st grade took the ferry acrossthelaketoexploretheEssex,NYquarry.

● Our families attended ourFamilySummerSend OffPicnic.

● The 6th graders took a multi-day trip to New HampshireandMassachusetts.

● The 4th graders rode the train to Middlebury andexploredMiddleburyCollege.

Another ongoing opportunity that started last winter and continues through this year is that every FCSclass attends the Willowell Outdoor Education program to engageinhands-on,naturebasedlearning.

This year, every class has visitedWillowellonceandwill visit twice more before the end of the year. This fall,we have continued to offer various opportunities for our students including the wonderful Ferrisburgh Children’s Theatre play, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” performed for both students and the community. We also continued our tradition of the Hike for Hunger at Basin Harbor andthisyearwehadoursecondbeautiful warm and sunny day for our hike. Our 5th and 6th graders designed amazing rain barrels as part of their water conservation unit, which they auctioned off in order to raise funds for both their end-of-year celebration and for a local water conservation organization. Our Kindergartens spend every Friday

outside in the woods as part of our Ferrisburgh Forest Fridaysoutdooreducationlearningprogram.

Our Universal Team works to reinforce the routinesthat support our school culture and nurture the skills that they need in an effective learning environment.Weuse our Transferable Skills- Personal Development (Grow); Community Connection (Connect); Innovative Thinking (Discover); and Effective Communication (Communicate) - to teach skills, reinforce routinesand celebratestudentsuccess.

We understand thatourschoolgivesustheopportunity to grow and learn every day and that we can directly teach, assess, reinforce, and celebrate transferable skills through our curriculum. Ourstudentsareinvolved in every part of our Universal process- planning and creating our norms, supporting one another, and developing our celebrations. Our Student Leadership Team meets regularly to brainstorm ways to improve our school. We also celebrate our students by recognizing their specific skills through Seed Slipstwice a year. In many of our school-wide celebrations and events, and many others throughout the year, our 6th and 5th graders support their younger buddies in 1st gradeandKindergarten,respectively.

Our garden and composting program continues to flourish under the supervision of Judy Elson, our 5th grade teacher, who coordinates the many facets of foodproductionwiththehelpofFCSfamilies.

Every week we meet as a whole school for All School Morning Meetings to celebrate birthdays, reinforce our skills, play games, and share recent successes. Once a month our families are invited for our Community Mornings to do activities with their children. Our students continue to amaze us with their activity, joy, andcareforourcommunity.

Our PTO meets monthly and has welcomed new leadership this year, as well as more active members. The PTO continues to support us in providing field trips, nourishing our teachers through staff recognition and adding value to our students'learningexperiences.This year, they put on two well attended events, Monster MashandHolidayMakeandTake,attheTownHall.

We continue to partner with the Four winds program which regularly teaches a nature based education programtoallourclasses.

In terms of our own effective communication, we use social media (Instagram and Facebook) and teachers and administration send bi-weekly, comprehensive newsletters. As mentioned, we have monthly CommunityMorningswherefamiliesareencouragedto join us for breakfast and activities related to our skill building.

We hope to continue to strengthen our community connections and benefit from the wonderful environmental and cultural aspects of the town of Ferrisburgh.

Two years ago, our school underwent enormousefforts in buildings and grounds. After that effort, FCS was set up for success and we have had less changes to our Buildings and Grounds. However, our incredible ANWSD maintenanceteamkeepsourschoolrunningsmoothly.

This coming spring, we will have new swings installed on our playground. We continue to worktoimproveour trailsandoutdoorclassrooms.

UpdatesonProgram

FCS currently has 175 students in PreK- 6th grade, with oneclassforeverygrade,otherthanPreK,Kindergarten, and 2nd grade, which all have two classrooms. A year ago, our Pre-K expanded and added an aftercare and Fusion component and continues to offer critical supporttoourcommunity’sworkingfamilies.

Every week our Kindergarten through 6th grade students attend our dynamic Unified Arts program. All students attend weekly library, health, art, social and emotional learning, music, and physical education classes. Due to staff transitions at the end of last year, we have welcomed new faculty and staff members to our team this year. In a time when school staffing is hard, I feel incredibly grateful that we were able to hire such experienced, committed professionals to join our already wonderful team. Having a combination of FCS veteran teachers (Kaci PIerce, Lydia Kenney, Kathy Pudvar, Judy Elson, and Erin Ackerman), second year teachers(Trish Van Vliet, Emily Gagnon, Tony Francescutti,andPriscillaMay),andnewstaffmakesfor aneffectiveandinspiringschoolculture.

We added six incredible new teachers to our team this year. Megan Rogers is one of our third/fourth grade teachers; she brings into the classroom her love of science and language. Randi Barry is our other third/fourth grade teacher and she brings her love of math to her students every day in an engaging and organized learning environment. Jocelyn Noble is our energetic and creative music teacher. Michelle Houghton and Molly Struhammer are our academic interventionists and we appreciate the expertise they bring to their content areas. We are grateful for the

energy and commitment that Morgan Kathan, our PE andhealthteacher,showseveryday.

Our student support team collaborates to support our students’ needs: Sue Brileya, our School Counselor, Bri Ettori, our DistrictPsychologist,GinaNormand,ourCSAC School-Based Clinician, Alicia Jerome, our schoolwide Student Support Interventionist and Jamie Bunde, our School Nurse. Nurse Jamie has been an incredible addition to our team and supports students with a holistic and multifaceted approach. Her willingness to helpinanywaybenefitsourschoolimmensely.

We continue to provide a multi-tiered system of support with Margo Grace, Stacy Valcourt, andHannah Lucarelliexpertlyguidingourstudentstogainnewskills.

Our school benefits from the invaluable staff members who keep the building running. Kaitie Flynn connects with students and families in immeasurable ways by being a creative problem solver and a reliable and committed school support. Anthony Barrett, our Head Custodian, is a much appreciated presence in our school. Sarah Anderson, our School Chef, continues to provide us all with the most delicious and nourishing foodwiththeassistanceofRileyCunningham.

FuturePlanning

In thinking ahead, we look forward to providing many wonderfulopportunitiesfortherestoftheyear.

● In February, we will have a week long Circus Artist in Residence, including a Circus Family

Fun Night, as well as a wholedaycommittedto Celebration World Read Aloud Day and the GlobalDayofPlay.

● In March, we will have Planetarium Day, where we learn about spaceinadvanceoftheeclipse which will be visible from Vermont as well as a month-long celebration of our One DistrictOne Book.

● In April, we will have our Kindness and Cultures week, which includesspiritdays,ourAroundthe World Celebration and an evening event for families.

● In May, we look forward to our ECHO STEM Festival coming to FCS as a bookend to the wonderfully innovative work our teachers have done with the ECHO Center professional developmentprogramthisyear.

● In June,wewillbecelebratingthegraduationof both our 5th and 6th grade classes as they transition to the Vergennes Union Middle School.

We look forward to continuing to strengthen our connections to the communitythroughourCommunity Mornings, evening community events,Willowelloutdoor learning experiences, and visiting artists in residency. Our school staff constantly refine the ways we teach and support students and we continue to build cohesive instructional programming in ordertoprovide meaningful and engaging learning experiences for our students.

VERGENNESUNIONELEMENTARYSCHOOL

PointsofPride

We continue to work diligently to increase ourcapacity to support students, teachers, staff, and families to the best of our abilities. Some of thewaysthatwedothisis through our community school work. This work focuses on integrated student supports, expanded and enriched learning opportunities, active family and community engagement, collaborative leadership and practices, and safe, inclusive and equitable learning environments. Some of the more overt actions that support this workincludethepurchaseanduseofthree lettuce trees (including one for FCS), the growth of our student mentoring programing that now includes five mentors for students, a student leadership team that regularly meets to discuss student issues related to belonging and ownership in partnership with Up for Learning, our ABAR work across the elementary level, and our food security work, which sends home a weekend powerpacktoover50familieseachweek.This work has also created opportunities to explore the garden as a component of wellness and health, increased access to mentalhealthservicesonsite,and more collaboration with health providers across the region.

Our UVM Outstanding ANWSD Elementary Teacher of the Year was Gwen Zwickel. Gwen devotes herself to the successful implementation of structured literacy for all students in our district. She has strong communication skills, she is supportive of and stands up for her colleagues. She is an essential member of our district that thrives to improve outcomes for students, opportunities for teachers and success for all learners. Gwen’s organizational and systems thinking are equally matchedbyempathyandoptimism.

Matthew

We continue to hone our practice with regard to meeting students' needs for literacy and numeracy. This work led usto consider the implementationof an approach we call small group instruction. This instructional block allows all students to regroup within a grade span and work with a number ofteachersand support staff on skills and practices aligned with our high leverage concepts. This intentional scheduling allows for flexible grouping, which permits both extension, time for reteaching and remediation as needed. We anticipate that this practice will become increasinglyefficientaswecontinueitsdevelopment.

Our music program continues to thrive. We have 50 students participating in chorus and we have well over 75 who participate in our various band programs. The musical performances are excellent and our biggest challenge continues to be a location that accommodates all who would like to attend. Our marching band placed well in Rutland parade in the fall.

UpdatesonProgram

We continue our progress in the implementation of structured literacy. This year we trained the remaining teachers through a rigorous curriculum in the implementation of Orton Gillingham for the classroom. At the writing of this, all of our classroom educators, literacyinterventionists,andspecialeducationteachers are trained or in training to complete this important work. Our school and district seems poised to be an example to the others for the implementation of a scientifically sound approach to instruction of reading. Our work with other programmatic approaches to writing and mathcontinuetoevolve.Wehaveidentified our High Leverage Concepts in these areas and are working to develop systems of data collection and

supports for programmatic implementation. However, there is likely to be a new version of Bridges (our math curriculum) in the coming year, which will be the focus ofmuchofourprofessionallearning.

We have quite a few new folks in the building this past calendar year. We welcomed Maggie Ahern - Special Education Teacher, April Ambrose - Second Grade Teacher, Sean Balon - Paraeducator, Beth BearorAssistant Principal, Laura Cavazos - Second Grade Teacher, Rachel Connor-Paraeducator,KristinDeGraaf - Paraeducator, Michelle Eckels - Grade Three Teacher, Beth Estey - Food Service Director, Matt Hotte - Head Custodian, Emily Intemann - Kindergarten Teacher, Taylor Krupp - Second Grade Teacher, MaryRose Maynard - Personal Care Assistant, Christopher Melnyk - Grade Six Teacher, Justin Morrison - Math Teacher, Sarah Oemcke - School Social Worker, and Kathryn Reardon-GradeSixTeacher.

Action Based Learning for all of our Kindergarten students continues to be a hallmark of our programming thatunitesskills,assessment,andflexible learning. Each week our kindergarten students meet to demonstrate their skills in math, literacy, handwriting, grossmotor,finemotor,oculartracking,andmore.Data is collected on the efficacy of the skill acquisition, analyzed by a team, and stations continually rotate to meet the needs of all of the learners. We are in the process of determining how to grow aspects of this programuptofirstgrade.

FuturePlanning

Transition planning continues as our fifth and sixth graders and teachers consider their move to the middle level. This planful collaboration will support an effective transition for all participants. We look forward toincreasedopportunitiesforourmiddleleveltothrive.

We will continue to determine the best ways toprovide social emotional learning, support, and integration in the school day. The marriage of PBIS, Responsive Classroom, and Restorative Practices continues to evolve. We hope that we will take some feedback from the UP for Learning student group to consider how to moveforwardontheseimportantendeavors.

VERGENNESUNIONMIDDLESCHOOL

PointsofPride

This semester saw the beginning of many new ideas, initiatives, and offerings focused on increasing student engagement at VUMS. A new schedule was implemented to prioritize middle level needs such as movement, interdisciplinary learning, and student led initiatives. Most notably, our Wednesday schedule has allowed opportunities for students to explorereadingin a different way through literacy circles, follow a non-traditional passion in student clubs, and build community through project time and house meetings. The effort involved to create these opportunities has been significant and we are proud to say that the Wednesday schedule is flowing well and improving everyweek.

Additionally, students have the opportunity to take electives at the end of the day. These offerings include Band and Chorus, Introduction to Computer Aided Design, Spanish, German, Agriculture, Guitar,andPiano. Some of these courses have beenaccessibletomiddle school students previously while others have not, but we are excited to offer these opportunities for our studentstopersonalizetheirlearning.

Right before break we officially named our two houses. APEX and Voyager, formerly House 1 and 2 respectively, will go forward as part of the identity of the new Vergennes Union Middle School. The names were selected by students and teachers, and reflect quite a bit of work around identity, culture, and the meaning andimpactofnames.

ColdenGolann,MSPrincipal

All students completed the Panorama survey this fall which measures social emotional health and well being, and their perceptions oftheschoolenvironment. We look at all parts of the survey, but also like to share the data as it relates tostudents'feelingsaboutschool. The survey measures engagement, supportive relationships, school safety, social awareness, sense of belonging, and school climate. We are really proud to share that our data indicated an increase in all six of these domains. Some of the increases were more modest, engagement was up 6% fromFall2022and9% from the Spring, while others showed even larger growth such as school climate which increased 13% fromFallof2022and17%fromtheSpring.

UpdatesonProgram

Aside from the programming highlighted above,oneof our big focuses for this year has been planning for our 6th grade transition nextyear.Thisisalonganticipated change that we adamantly believewillhavesignificant benefits for all ofourmiddleschoolstudents.Inorderto ensure a productive change for everyone, we have spent a lot oftime,thinking,planning,andtalkingabout the logistics and programming required. We are really proud of the work we have done this year and want to ensure that it continues into the future for our 6th, 7th, and8thgradestudents.

In November we held our first parent informational meeting at VUMS. We had about a hundred people attend for a presentation and to ask questions. As a new member of this community, I was really encouraged by the turnout and the curious and insightful feedback. All oftheinformationsharedduring that event can be found on our website under the 6th grade transition tab. After that event, I offered to meet with anyone in the community who wanted to offer feedback or discuss the process in further detail. I had quite a few people express interest in that and am still working through the list. For anyone else who wasn’t able to attendorwouldliketotaketheopportunitynow, pleaseemailmeandIwouldbehappytotalkwithyou.

Going forward, we will be holding another community event later this winter and a welcome night for all 5th and 6th grade students and families in the spring. We are focusing our planning for those events on student scheduling, transition event planning, and facility modifications to support the strong programming we have already implemented and will continue into next year.

FuturePlanning

Our future work is largely devoted to further development of the programs and changes that we

have already instituted this year. We are excited tosee those elements continue to grow and increase their impact onthestudentexperienceatVUMS.Additionally, we are working on 6th grade planning and ensuring that everyone has access to the best middle school experiencewecanprovide.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me withany questions or concerns or if you want to get more involvedintheworkthatwearedoing!

VERGENNESUNIONHIGHSCHOOL

PointsofPride

This year has flown by, providing ample opportunities for reflection on the school's achievements. In Marchof 2023, we showcased the musical "Newsies" with remarkable success. Over 60 students, both on and off stage, contributed to an impressive production. Looking ahead to this spring, anticipation builds for our upcoming performance of "Mama Mia." Moreover, with over 300 studentsparticipatinginsports across the district, our school offers a plethora of opportunities. Despite our smaller size, Pete Maneen ensures thateverystudentfindsateamwheretheycan fully engage in their chosen sport. Our relationshipwith our neighboring high schools allows athletes to participate in sports VUHS is not able to offer independently, such as football, hockey, and lacrosse. Our music department puts on many vocal and instrumental concerts throughout the school year showcasing our talented musicians. They also audition forandattenddistrict,state,andnationalfestivals.

JodyChamberlin,HSPrincipal

In May of 2023, we made the Social Justice Festival an annual event. This day continues to be created for students by students. The event started with theentire school eating lunch together and then we gatheredfor an assemblyfullofakeynotespeaker,EstherCharlestin, student speakers, community speakers, and a full performance by SoundCheck. SoundCheck is a group of Vermont high school musicians and singers who createandperformtheirmusictofightforsocialjustice. The assembly was followed by several community groups running workshops andactivitiesforstudentsto participateinfortherestoftheafternoon.

Full Send, a student social justice club, planned the Social Justice Festival in 2023 and planned Peace One Day for the Fall of 2023. They are just one of many student groups we have at the school. We have our athletic teams, our math team, Full Send, Fusion, FFA,

GSA, the Green Team, Jazz Band, Commodore singers, the drumline, and the school musical. There is also a classcouncilforeachgradelevel.

Homecoming this fall was so much fun. It’s always a fantastic start to class bonding each year. The seniors picked the theme of Biomes and each class was in charge of their float. Sophomores helped plan Homecoming and they put on the dance as a fundraiser. The parade through town followed by a bonfire was enjoyed by allwhoattended.Saturdaywas full of soccer games and that evening, the students danced for many hours in the library. The seniors will put on the Winter Ball inFebruary.Thejuniorswillhosta Star Wars themed prom at Common Ground in May. Last May, wedancedatBasinHarborandeveryonehad a fun time. Several students even convinced Kyle Vickerstojoininonthedancefloor.

Our highlights of Fall 2023 began with hosting jamele adams to kick off theyear.Hismessagetothestudents was all about LOVE.INCLUSION.&TRUST.Heemphasizes that we are a community and we are here for each other. It was a great kick-off to the year. In mid-September, we hosted Playing Fields in conjunction with the Flynn Theater. Itwasa full community event that included face painting, giant chess pieces, a photo booth, and more.Theevening ended with a fantastic performance by featured artists Compagnie Des Quidams. From September 15th through the 26th, we had guests from Germany for the two weeks around Homecoming. It was fun to see them attend their first homecoming in the United States. Visitors began their trip participating infunactivitieswiththeirhostfamilies. They went apple picking, hiking,andsomeevengotout on the lake. They traveled to Montreal, participated in Peace One Day, hiked Snake Mountain, went to the Kayhart Farm, visited the Crown Point Fort, went to the

Maritime Museum, explored the academic programing at VUMHS by joining their hosts in classes, going to Walden, and participating inMorningMeetingactivities. The day they left us, VUHS students lined the drive and waved themofftoNYC. Manyofthestudentshavekept in touch with each other and this exchange offers resultsinlifelongfriendships.

UpdatesonProgram

While there are many non-academic programs for students to be involved with, academics are still the priority along with student well-being here at Vergennes Union High School. This year, our teachers are working in Professional Learning Groups to build units for their departments that haveengaginglessons aligned with the standards. Wearecontinuingtofocus on the curriculum with this work. We are also focused on implementing more UDL (Universal Design for Learning) within daily lessons and in the units being created during our Wednesday afternoon PLG collaboration time. UDL is an educational framework

based on research that guides the development of flexible learningenvironmentsandlearningspacesthat can accommodate individual learning differences. Other professional development activities center around ABAR (Anti-Bias, Anti-Racism) and Restorative Practices.

FuturePlanning

The Leadership Team is working on updating our Proficiency Handbook. We want to focus on making sure all teachers have the same knowledge and ability to use our learning scales to strengthen student learning and understanding. We will also focus on the final rating of standards taught in the classroom, and strengthening our transferable skills. We then plan to increase our family communication around these concepts. We have startedtostrengthenourCompass time, which is used for proficiency recovery, homework help, quiet work time, team building, and clubs. Our main priorities are student engagement, the student's sense of belonging, and the improvement of the student'ssenseofcommunity.

DEPARTMENTALREPORTS

AFTERSCHOOLPROGRAMS

PointsofPride:

AsiaKruse,Director

● The ANWSD Afterschool Program continues to provide consistent child care at our three licensed locationsVergennes Union Elementary School (ThunderCare), Ferrisburgh Central School (CougarCare), and PreK (Extended Care). Childcare is offered throughout the school year afterschool, on early release days, February andAprilVacation,andforsevenweeksduringtheSummer.

● Our ANWSD Fusion Afterschool Program is committed to expanding research-based enrichment opportunities for students. The funding through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Grant will allow us to continue to provide enrichment opportunities and extended schooldayprogrammingthatwilldirectlyaddress the social and emotional needs of all students. We will focus on expanding high quality enrichment class opportunities by offering a wide variety of age appropriate activities throughout the year and during summer programmingatalllocations.

● In collaboration with the Fusion Key Partners: City of Vergennes, Community School Grant, ESSER Grant - 75 students (grades K-12) participated in Bolton Valley’s Ski and Ride Afterschool Program. Seventy-five VUES Students participated in the first Fusion Musical Productionof“SeussicalJr''heldattheVergennes OperaHouse.

● Fusion Afterschool Program was named the “Flying Classroom '' Ambassador and was the first site in the State of Vermont to launch the unique STEM+ programming based on the world expedition of CaptainBarringtonIrving.

● During the Summer of 2023, ANWSD serviced around 300 students grades (PreK-12). These services were the combination of childcare services, Fusion enrichment opportunities, and summer expanded learning opportunities. Free transportation and free meals were providedtoallstudents.

● Fusion enrichment classes included The FlyingClassroom,Journalism, Cooking, Science, STEM+, Art, Safe Sitters, “Garbage to Gorgeous'', SoccerCamps,CollaborativePEGames,RopesCourse,Gardening,andmanymore.

● Summer Care provided families with a safe, affordable, welcomingenvironmentforstudentstogrowtheirskills and strengthen connections with peers and mentors. Students are provided withtheopportunitytoaccessthe CityofVergennespool,andotheramenities.

UpdatesandFuturePlanningfortheProgram:

● ANWSD Childcare Program received grant funding from the VT Act 76 Readiness Payment to help support childcareandpreschoolprogramswithstabilization,expansionandquality.

● Ourafterschoolandchildcareprogramscontinuetothriveandhaveanincreaseinenrollment.

● Vergennes Union Elementary School is currently re-applying for the 21C Community Learning CentersGrant to continuetoprovidehighqualityafterschooleducationandservices.

● Wearepreparingtosubmit ourapplicationforthenewlyrevampedSTARSProgram.

● We are looking forward to planning and offering another successful Summer Program to the ANWSD Community.

ATHLETICS

PeterManeen,Director

“Athleticscompletesaneducationbycreatingcharacterthatfosterscourage,honesty,andleadership,butmostof all,anunassailablespiritofloyalty,camaraderieandmutualresponsibility.”-ChariotsofFire

I came across this quote while attending a school in Massachusetts and it resonated with me.WhenIwatch our students compete in our various activities, I see these traits in our most successful players/teams. Athletics is the other half of an education and teaches some of the most important skills for life that you don’t get in the classroom; teamwork, adversity, dealingwith various personalities, and learning how to persevere through success and failure. When I watch our teams compete, I’m so proud seeing our students and coaches and how they conduct themselves. Vergennes really is a great city and school; and our athletic program depicts the character ofourareasowell.

100th career victory in the semifinals and then went on tocapturethe132lbstatechampionship.

Once spring rolled around, our teams showed how playing tough schedules duringtheseasoncansetyou up for success in the playoffs. Our softball, baseball, and girls’ lacrosse teams all reached the semifinals. While each lost tough games, it’s not often schools have that many teams get that far in the playoffs in the same season. Our boys’ lacrosse players made it one step further andreachedthestatetitlegame when they fell behind early and their furious rally ended just a couple goals short. Vergennes senior,HenryAnderson,reached a milestone during the season when he scored his 100th career goal! The track & field team competed on a steaming hot day in Manchester for the state championships where they picked up two state championships. The 4x800M relay team of Cal Gramling, CalderRakowski,GreyFearon& Riley Gagnon crushed the field en route to their championship and Calder Rakowski ranagreat800Mracetotakehomethehonors.

This past winter, we watched both the boys’ & girls’ basketball teams earn home playoff games. With packed houses, both teams picked upfirstround victories before falling todifficult opponents in the quarterfinals. The indoor track team spent their winter at UVM each weekend and watched Cal Gramling bring home a state championship in the 1000M run.Ouramazingfacilitieswereondisplayforthe state in February as Vergennes once again hosted the cheerleading & dance state championships. Our small, but spirited, cheerleading team took home 4th place honors.Vergennesalso hosted the two day Vermont wrestling state championships and during that event, Vergennes senior, Eli Brace, picked up his

This past fall, our teams battled the rain and their opponents. While many gameswereplayedonsoaked, muddy fields, thesoccerteamsworkedhardallseason. The boys’ team lost many talented players from the team that reached the past three semifinals and a young group challenged many of the state's best teams, earning praise and respect from around the state. The girls’ soccer team turned in a nice season that saw them earn a home playoff game before

eventually losing to the #1 seed in their division. The bass fishing team grew in numbers and earned a 4th place showing at the state tournament in Grand Isle. It was a tough day of fishing as the rain never letupand the anglers and coaches were soaked to the bone, but seeingthesmilesontheirfaces at weigh-ins, you could tell they had a blast. The cross country teams ran well all season and were paced by GreyFearonwhoplaced12thin the state meet and earnedthe opportunity to compete in the prestigious “meet of champions.” Grey’s hard work certainly paid off as he ran close to 500 miles during the summer to prepare for the season. Our golf teamdoubled from two participants to four this fall and scores dropped significantly over the course of the season. Returning to the water after an “off” year, the rowing team once again shined with a 2nd place finish at the Icebreaker in Massachusetts. While the football team had a tough go on the field, one Vergennes student stood above all, and ran past them as well! Jamison Couture racked up 1278 yards rushing on the seasonmakingitback-to-backyearsreachingthe1000 yard milestone, the first player in Vergennes history to doso.

teams (227 players) and this winter we are fielding 13 basketballteams(178),threeyouthcheerleadingteams (59) and two youth wrestling teams (34). Our future is bright and our coaches deserve much praiseforgiving uptheirtimetoteachtheyouthofourcommunity.

Also deserving praise are our high school athletes for their leadership and loyalty to our community. Not only do these folks work hard day in andday out to represent our community on the fields, courts, water, trails, many of them also give time to the future athletes. Some of the best moments over the school year are the elementaryclinics our high school coaches and players have with our elementary programs. Each Saturdayoverthecourseofthe soccerandbasketballseasons, our high school athletes arrive at the school early to hold clinics and help our elementary athletes work on their skills and the love of the game. If you’ve never been to one of these events, youshouldcheckitout,it’squiteinspirational.

Aside from the outstanding seasons our high school teams had over the pastyear,it’simportanttonotethe future. Our participation numbers continue to remain high and allow Vergennes to be one of thefewschools to continue to offer JVteamsinmostsports.The opportunity to play JV keeps kids involved by allowing them to play at a level they can have success while they continue to build on their skills and understanding of the game. We are able to field JV teams due to our outstanding middle school and elementary numbers. This past fall, Vergennes had 15 elementary soccer

Our community is rich in tradition and known for their tireless support of their athletic teams.Ourfacilitiesare well known across the state as some of the very best, our coaches are held in high regard, and our students display character and grace under pressure. Please come out andtakeinanevent,you’llbeimpressedwith whatyousee.

(photocredit: BillClark)

EARLYEDUCATION

MarcieTierney,PKDirector

UpdatesonProgram:

PointsofPride:

The ANWSD EarlyEducationProgramisalicensedearlychildhoodprogramwiththeStateof Vermont, located within the Ferrisburgh Central School. We hold five stars with the Step Ahead Recognition Program and are a Vermont pre-qualified pre-kindergarten program. We have 7.5 highly qualified educators who make a strong team for our young ANWSD students. Weoperatetwofull-timepreschoolclassroomswith12-14studentsineachgroup. We provide intensive support to students with special needs. Wecurrentlyhavethreestaff members supporting students 1-on-1inourpreschoolsetting. Weprovideoutreachamong the District’s early education community as well. Ourextendeddaycareprogramprovides afullerdayexperienceforstudentsandfamilies.

Our preschool program operates five days a weekforfivehoursaday. Weserve50/50,studentswithidentifiedspecial needs and peer models. Our extended day care program operates five days a week as well, until 4:30pm. Additional enrichment activities are offered to children during this time such as Taekwon Do, Yoga, Music Together, etc. On average,16studentsattendourextendeddayprogram.

FuturePlanning:

We plan to hold our annual Child Developmental ScreeningdaysinMarch2024. OurFall2024enrollmentwillfollowthe screening. We continue to look at our programming in order to serve as many children aspossible. Wewillrenewour pre-qualified pre-kindergarten application in January 2024. We will submit our application report for the newly revampedSTARSprograminApril2024.

OFFICEOFLEARNING

GabeHamilton,DirectorofLearning

Hunt,Equity&InclusionCoordinator

MelissaStrong,DataManager

PointsofPride:

The 2022-23 school yearkickedoffwithakeynotefromclinicalpsychologistGillianBourdreautitled“RememberingWho We Are and What We Know.” Gillian is a national speaker and frequent consultant and trainer for school districts seeking to improve student engagementandbehavior,reducestaffburnoutandturnover,andfosterequityandjustice intheschoolsetting,allprioritiesforANWSD.

Professional learning through the year focused on our equity-centered professional learning framework above. Althoughwemaintainthesepriorities,theworkevolvesovertimeaswerespondtostudentandstaffneeds. Updatesfor theyearareasfollows:

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) We worked to build a solid foundation across the District in Universal Design for Learning through a series of nine modules that supported deeper understanding of how to apply the UDL framework to curricular design,instruction,and assessmentinourclassrooms.

Coordinated Curriculum Through collaborative work throughout theyearandintothesummer,wewereable to build a solid draft of analignedK-12curriculum. You

can view that and other happenings from the Office of Learningonourwebpageat:

https://www.anwsd.org/departments/office-of-learning

Anti-racist & Anti-bias work (ABAR) ABAR work continued across all of our schools, this time allowing for more choice and access to all teachers and staff. This work continues to be a focus as weworktobuilda welcominglearningcommunityforall.

Kimberly

Staff Wellness Our PATH Wellness team continued to provide regular opportunities for teachers to connect andreenergizethroughdynamicchoice-basedoptions.

Universal Data/Multi Tiered Systems of Supports

(MTSS) Wecontinuetostrengthenourdatasystemsso we can access the best available information on academics, social emotional learning, attendance,and behavior. We ramped up implementation of a data system called EduClimber, thatallowsustoaccessand

UpdatesonProgram

disaggregate student dataintimelywayssowecanbe responsive to needs. We also continue to refine our layered supports with a focus on personalization and timelysmallgroupinstructionandintervention.

Community Connections We continue to host events, both within schools and for the broader community. Student leaders like thoseinourstudentleadership,Full Send, planned amazing events around social justice, sense ofbelonging,mentalhealth,andliteracytoname afew.

Academics: This year marked a change in the statewide assessment with a shift from the Smarter Balanced Achievement Consortium (SBAC) to the Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program (VTCAP). Weusethisasoneof many measures of how students are performing. While we outperformed the state in most grades for ELA and Math, there is still work to do so as to increase the percentage of students meeting proficiency,particularlyinsubgroupslike thosethatareeconomicallydisadvantaged.

Ourlocalscreenerassessmentsgiveamoretimelyandcompletepictureofstudentlearning. OurFASTscreenersfor MathandELAgiveusimmediatebroadandindividualstudentdatathreetimesayear,allowingustotargetareasof needinoursystemandforindividualstudents. Broadlyspeaking,weconsistentlyperformatornearnationalaverages inbothMathandELA.

SocialEmotionalLearning: Wecontinuetogatherdataonstudents’socialandemotionalwell-being. WeconductFall andSpringPanoramaassessmentswherestudentstooksurveysthatmeasuredtheirsenseofsocialawareness, supportiverelationshipsengagement,schoolclimate,schoolsafety,andsenseofbelonging. Althoughweseesome moderategainsinsomeareas,thereisclearlystillworktobedone,particularlyinengagementintheuppergrades. We areusingthisinformationtohelpusdesignprofessionallearning,especiallyintheareaofUniversalDesignforLearning. In2023,wewillcontinuetoassessstudentsthroughPanoramaandusethedatatomeasuregrowthorlackthereof,and makeadjustmentstoourprofessionallearningasneeded.

FuturePlanning

TheOfficeofLearningreviewsassessmentdataandusesfeedbackfromeducators,students,families,andcommunity memberstoextractthemesofwhatisimportantforthesuccessofeachandeverystudent. Thesethemescontinueto driveaframeworkthatwhenwoventogether,createsprofessionallearningthatisresearch-based,dataresponsive, andalignedtothemissionofANWSD.

ReeseG.-grade12

Nova-grade5

OPERATIONS&MAINTENANCE

VERGENNESUNIONHIGHSCHOOL-Completed

GaryWright,DirectorofBuildings,Grounds&Safety

● Perimeter drain added around Auditorium & band room tostopwaterinthetunnel underAuditorium.

● Door security audit and recommissioning to verify door alarms are working properly.

● AssistedwiththenewMiddleSchoolSparkArea.

● Parking lot re-striped & added signage to help with new traffic flow & student/pedestriansafety.

VERGENNESUNIONELEMENTARYSCHOOL-Completed

● Worked with contractors to establish biddable drawings for two new bathroom upgrades above the existing vault, boiler room space, as wellasHVACsystem.

● Quadwallwestside-removedtherottedmaterialand resided.

● Replaced rot on the west side of upper exterior siding/roof area with newfasciaboards&soffit.

● Sumppumpreplacedinbasement.

● MountednewflatscreenTVinthegym&safetyboxaroundit.

● Hadanexhaustfaninstalledoverthekiln.

FERRISBURGHCENTRALSCHOOL-WorkCompleted

● Newrepeaterinstalledtoallowformoreconsistentradiocommunication.

ANWSDALLSCHOOLBUILDINGS-WorkCompleted

● PCBtestingcompletedatVUES&VUMHS,bothschoolspassed. AwaitingFCStobecompleted.

● Interior and exterior condition and configuration door audit to ensure safety for fire and other crisis events requiringegressandorlockdown.

PATHEMPLOYEEWELLNESSPROGRAM

PointsofPride

ANWSD’s Planned ActionTowardsHealthProgram,PATH for short, offersarobustworld-classemployeewellness program featuring a variety of relevant services that meet the diverse needs of employees. In partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont (BCBSVT) and Vermont Education Health Initiative (VEHI), the ANWSD PATH Team brings wellness to life by supporting individuals in gaining healthy skills, strategies and knowledge that allows them to thrive at home, at work and in their communities. A priority for the team is providing opportunities to make connections with othersandhavefun.

Since 2017, ANWSD has been anannual recipient oftheHealthySUGrant,oneof only eleven school districts in Vermont to receive this competitive award.

Through theHealthSUProgram,ANWSD receives funding, resources, and professional guidance used towards data-driven employee wellness activities and initiatives. Examples include: Get Moving in Active April; Knife Skills for Stress Reduction kicking off the More Matters Fruit and Vegetable Challenge; the Relax Sleep Challenge; and the 10-Week Adventure Challenge. The PATH Team also plans a menu of simple activities for employees to participate in during the WIN (What I Need) professional learning days. Examples include: walking and exploring the web-based WellBeats platform which offers classes led by professionals on topics such as physical activity and fitness, nutrition, mindfulness,andmore.

UpdatesonProgram

In order to make informed decisions on programming, the ANWSD PATH Team analyzes state and district health and wellness data routinely, identifying possible root causes andconnections.

Data sets include BCBSVT Claims, results from VEHI’s Healthy Life Survey, answers from the Employee Interest

LynneRapoport,DistrictChampion

Questionnaire,anddirectemployeefeedback.

Itisexcitingtoseeapositiveimpactfromthisimportant work, such as in the annual PATH 10-Week Adventure. Data indicates that of those participating in the 10-WeekPATHAdventure,93percentreportasignificant increase in staff moraleduringthe10weeks;85percent report at least one employee who makes a life-saving lifestyle change; 65 percent increase their physical activity; 59 percent feel healthier all-around; and 30 percentlostweight.

FuturePlanning

Just as students need to be healthy, safe, engaged, challenged, and supported to perform to their highest ability, so do our school employees who are charged witheducating,guiding,nurturing,andprotectingthem.

The ANWSD PATH Team will continue to provide employee wellness leadership, resources, and education to empower and promote healthy lifestyles, encouraging individual wellbeing, and lower health risks. Specific topics over the following school year include: encouraging an active school community with increased activity during the school day; decreasing health complications related to stress; and promoting healthy food choices during the school day and beyond.

Whether teaching students in the classroom, running the school, maintaining the school buildings, or providing after school care, every school employee contributes to a school’s mission. Employees can only give their best when they are feeling their best. Supporting school employee wellness is an important way to communicate that each staff member is respectedandvalued.

The PATH Team includes District Champion: Lynne Rapoport and Building Leaders: Glory Martin (CO); Jaime Wells &KarynChoromanski (VUMHS); Robyn Newton (VUES), and Kathie Pudvar(FCS)

The Vermont Legislature voted to pilot Universal Free School Meals starting in July 2022. This law allows all students equal access to school meals every day regardless of ability to pay. ANWSD schools produced and served over 100,000 lunches and 50,000 FREE breakfasts to students during the school day. These numbers maintained andincreasedtheprevious year’s participation numbers, which were also free due tofederalpandemicrelatedwaivers.

What is striking about Universal School meals beyondhigherparticipation is the increased sense of equity and inclusion that this service offers theentire school community. Access to meals is no longer a matter of income eligibility, it is part of students’ educational day intended to sustain and support their learning and growth. This leads to adecreaseinstress and anxiety related to food access for the entire community, including students who are all eligible for school meals, as well as teachers, and parents who no longer need to worry about student’s being fed. It also allows the School Nutrition Services to focus more on food quality, variety, and meeting student needs without having to manage payments for meals and schoolmealsdebt.

We took advantage of our increased ability to focus on food preparation and programming to work collaboratively as much as possible with school-based programs and activities so that our services become more integral within the schoolcommunity.Examplesinclude: making foodforeventssponsoredby the Community Schools Grant and working with the seniorclasstoprepareaspecialendofyearpicnic.

The Summer Meals program had a final year of service in July and August because of USDA waivers allowingthisprogramtocontinueone more summer without eligibility numbers in each school. Children attending Summer programs in Vergennes Union Elementary School and Vergennes Union Middle & HighSchoolreceivedfreemealsandwe reached 100 additional families with our Meal Kit program, offeringaonceaweekpickupatBixbyLibrary for any family that signed up. We enjoyed a great partnershipwithBixbyLibrarytomakethisallhappen.

Our programs achieved a level of local purchasing of 15% of total food costs in FY23. This resulted in being eligible for a Local Food Incentives grant distributed in the followingyear of $.15 per lunch served during the fiscal year. In addition, Ferrisburgh Central School continued its longstanding efforts to bring many fresh foods grown in the school garden to student trays for lunch. VUES isalsoworkingtobuildits school garden capacity and to workonincludingthese foodsinsomeschoolmealofferings.

Issues related to staffing and supply chain shortages continued to be challenging in 2022-2023, but our learning from the past few years to pivot and adapt to situations proved useful and helped our programs maintainqualityandconsistency.

At the end of the school year, our School Nutrition Service submitted an application for a Healthy Meals Incentive Grant to define and make improvements to School Nutrition over a two-year period. We received $128,000 to pursue a variety of activities including culinary training for staff, capital equipment, and student engagement. We are looking forward to pursuing these goals in the nexttwoyearsandbuilding our program capacity and making meaningful improvements.

PointsofPride

Our Special Education department has been doing exceptionalworkmeetingtheneedsofstudentsdespite state-wide staffingandsubshortages.Weareinvolving families in the IEP process and incorporating their valuable input into student plans. Many students in middle and high school are receivingservicethrougha co-teaching model, which keeps them in regular classes with their peers as much as possible. The Special Education department continues to work with the Department of Learning to incorporate structured literacy instruction in special education environments aswellasK-6classrooms.

Special Education staff are working with MTSSteamsto enhance our instructional practices and the programming available for all students in our District. As the line between special and general education blurs due to Act 173, students areincreasinglyreceiving interventions and support within their regular classes without the need for special education. This will eventually lead to a decreasing reliance on special education as we catch andaddressinterventionneeds earlier. The unprecedented number of referrals, which our evaluation and PreK teams have been managing heroically,shouldleveloffasourMTSSdevelops.

UpdatesonProgram

We continue to seek ways to meet the needs of students who struggle with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. This goal has become more important with the closure of two alternative schoolsin Chittenden County where some of our students were attending. OurnewBeaconprogram,whichishousedin a designated space at VUHS, is meeting some of our needs by serving students with significant needswithin our District. Our Addison Consortium Program (ACP) in Middlebury (formerly Addison Wayfinder Project) has added a middle school program and now serves grades 6-12 in collaboration with Mt. Abe and Middlebury school districts. With small groups and an outdoor component, ACP is addressing the needs of some of our students, though we continue to explore

PeterGarrecht,InterimDirector

other opportunities toprovideservicesforstudentswho need SEL and behavioralsupport,ideallywithinAddison County.

Case managers have been adjusting to EdDoc - our third IEP platform in two years and the one we plan to stick with. Our goal development program, GoalBook, continues to provide measurable SMART goals based on standards with accompanying progress monitoring tools that are increasingly valuable as we move to an evaluation system thathingesonstudentprogresswith interventions.

Eligibility for special education with a specific learning disability is now based on patterns of strengths and weaknesses and response to interventions. This provides an opportunity for classroom teachers, interventionists, and special educators to improvetheir targeted interventions and progress monitoring within theMTSSandspecialeducation.

FuturePlanning

We are looking at waysourconsortiumwithMiddlebury and Mt. Abemightexpandtomeettheneedsofawider range of students who require intensive, alternative placements, including at the PreK and K-5 levels. This would keep students closer to home and school communities and provide opportunities for them to participate in sportsandafterschoolprograms.Itwould also facilitate the transition back to their homeschools and result in significant savings related to transportation.

TECHNOLOGY

PointsofPride

We continue to judiciously upgrade technology to remain current, resilient, cost-effective, and as best we can, “future-proof” in that we mindfully purchase hardware that will last at least five years andlonger,ifpossible.Wherever practical,werepairratherthanreplaceandwefindwaystomakeuseoftheless-than-cutting-edgetechnology.

All of our spaces are connected to each other and to the internet wirelessly, allowing for great flexibility in where teaching can happen and with whattechnology.Ourinternet connectionsarefastandredundant.

Taking a page from the business world, we have a Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery technology deployed that insulatesusfrommajorequipmentfailure.

Chromebook management for all 800+ students is solid and dependable with an emphasis on accountability for the devices.

UpdatesonProgram

Several classrooms were outfitted with large-screen interactive devices to replace theagingSmart-Boardtechnology. There was slight resistance to this change at first,butindicationsarethatallaffectedteachersacceptthenewdevices andseveralpreferthemandmakeuseoftheaddedadvantages.

FuturePlanning

Moreclassroomswillbeoutfittedwiththelarge-screeninteractivedevices.

Network security is a never-ending battle, but we will continue to upgrade hardware, software, education, and implementation topreventacyberincident.Atthesametime,wewillcontinuetocompartmentalizeinformationsothat intheeventofabreach,damagewillbemitigated.

TimWhite,SystemsAdministrator

VergennesUnionHighSchoolUnderclassRecognition—June2023

Thesejuniorshavebeenrecognizedfortheiracademicexcellence,leadership,andservicetoourcommunitywiththe followingawardsfromcollegesaroundourregion.

ClarksonUniversityLeadershipAward

ZoeReid-St.John

ClarksonUniversityAchievementAward

ElizabethBennett

TheElmiraCollegeKeyAward

SiobhanPotter

RensselaerPolytechnicInstitute–RensselaerMedalAward

CalderRakowski

TheSageColleges-StudentSageScholarship

AcadiaClark

RyderMessinger

MadelynGiroux KaelinSullivan

AlainaLeBeau

SaintMichael’sCollegeBookAwardforScholarshipandService

KimariCollins MackenzieFlint

UniversityofRochester–Bausch&LombHonoraryScienceAward

NatalieJackman

UniversityofRochester-GeorgeEastmanYoungLeadersAwardandScholarship

CalvinGramling

UniversityofRochester-FrederickDouglassandSusanB.AnthonyAwardinHumanities&SocialSciences

MatildaSeyler

UniversityofRochester–XeroxAwardforInnovationandInformationTechnology

BenjaminHargett

WilliamsCollegeBookAward

MatildaSeyler

Boys’State

CalvinGramling

TyerellLavoice

EyonTembreull

Girls’State

MadelynGiroux

2024DARGoodCitizenAward-MackenzieFlint

Each yearaVergennesUnionHighSchoolseniorischosenfortheDAR(Daughtersofthe American Revolution) Good Citizen’s Award by faculty members nominating three seniors and then the senior class elects one of those three as their Good Citizen. This award is sponsored by the local Daughters of the American Revolution, Seth Warner-Rhoda Farrand Chapter and is intendedtoencourageandrewardthequalities of good citizenship. The DAR Good Citizen’s Award recognizes astudentthatpossesses the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism to an outstanding degree. Thisstudentcanapplyforascholarshipaswell.Weareproudtoannouncethat the2024DARGoodCitizenisMackenzieFlint.

Congratulationstothisyear’sHOBYAmbassadors22-23

Every year, each highschoolintheUnitedStatesmaychooseatleast one sophomore to represent them attheirstate’sHughO’BrienYouth Leadership (HOBY) Conference. Students were nominated and selected for this honor based on their demonstrated and potential leadership skills and traits. This year’s seminar was held at Vermont TechnicalCollegeRandolphCampus.

StudentswhowereacceptedintotheGovernor’sInstitutesofVermontSummer2023:

AllegradeBoer

AxeldeBoer

MackenzieFlint

MadelynGiroux

AvaHolmes

NoraNelson

SiobhanPotter

CalderRakowski

LilyRoot

MatildaSeyler

GinaLeBeau KaelinSullivan

AlainaLeBeau EllieWilkinson-Sachs

SamMoriglioni

ANWSDDEMOGRAPHICS PROFILEONTHECOMMUNITY

Vermont2010&2020CensusProjectionsbyTown,2030 (ScenarioA)

Vermont2010&2020CensusProjectionsbyTown,2030 (ScenarioB)

** Please note these are projections, not predictions. Projections assume that conditions which occurred in the past will continue into the future. For theseprojections,thereareassumptionsaboutmortalityrates(continuinga downward trajectory for the next 20 years), birth ratesandtwosetsofassumptionsaboutmigrationrates.Events may alter the conditions that led to population changes in the past 20 years and those events will affect the changesinpopulation.Examplesofchangesthatarenotpredictedfortheseestimates:

● Changesinthebirthratefromsocialchangesdifferentthanwhathasoccurredinthepast20years

● Changesinhealthcarepracticesorepidemicsthatcouldaffectmortalityrates

● Changingeconomicconditionsthatresultinshiftsinnational(internal)migration

● Changesinnationalimmigrationpolicies

Source: https://dail.vermont.gov/sites/dail/files/documents/vt-population-projections-2010-2030.pdf

(enrollmentfiguresasofOctober1stofgivenyear)

(includesstudentsfromACSbeginning2020-21)

STAFFRETENTIONDATA

Source: https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-fy24-announced-tuition-report-print-version-v1-1.pdf

FY25

BUDGETINFORMATIONandVOTING

Registerinadvanceforthismeeting: http://bit.ly/ANWSD-Annual-Meeting

Afterregistering,youwillreceiveaconfirmationemailcontaininginformationaboutjoiningthemeeting. LegalvoterswhoattendviaZoommaynotactuponarticlesfromthefloorbutmayparticipatefor informationalpurposesonly ANWSDAnnualMeeting

Monday,February26,2024 6:00PM VUMHSLibrary

PublicInformationHearing

TownMeetingDay

Monday,February26,2024 7:00PM VUMHSLibrary

Thereisnodeadlinetoregistertovote.You can register ahead of time or at the polls onthedayofthevote.

Vote on your own schedule by requesting a ballot through the your Town Clerk or visiting the My Voter Page website: https://mvp.vermont.gov

CountingoftheBallots

Tuesday,March5,2024

-7:00PM

TownHall 10:00AM-7:00PM

According to statute 16 VSA §742(a), all votes cast byvotersofaunifiedunionschooldistrict must be commingled and should not be counted based on the voter's town of residence. Therefore, we need to arrange for the ballots to be transferred to a central location for counting. The designated location would be the ANWSD Central Office at 11 Main Street, Vergennes(KennedyBrothersbuilding).

The counting of the ballotswilltakeplaceonWEDNESDAY,MARCH6,2024at9:00AM. Thiswill accommodate each town to have the availability to send the properBoardofCivilAuthority tobepresentduringthecounting,aspermittedbystatute16VSA§741(a)(5).

WARNINGS

2023ANNUALMEETINGMINUTES

ANWSDBoardofDirectors

AnnualMeeting

Monday,February27,2023

6:00PM

VergennesUnionHighSchoolLibrary

Board: JohnStroup,ChrisKayhart,KristinaMacKulin,NikkiBearor,EricaAndrus,MarySullivan,MarkKoenig, MichaelKane,MimiClark

Administration: SheilaSoule,Superintendent;ElizabethJennings,DirectorofFinance&Operations

Guests: DavidTatlock,Ferrisburgh;GregBurdick,Vergennes;TimBuskey,Addison;ElizabethArmstrong,Addison; Tara Brooks, Vergennes; Nancy Ambrose, Vergennes; Katie Quinn, Ferrisburgh; Mike Quinn, Ferrisburgh; Susan Oliveira, Ferrisburgh; Amanda Bodell, Waltham, Jon Kidde, Vergennes; Chrystal Little, Vergennes; GloryMartin,ANWSDCentralOffice

ViaZoom: MarycarolRossignol,Addison;HaydenSenesac,Vergennes;MelissaStrong,Vergennes;KathyRossier, Vergennes; Tim O’Leary, Ripton; Kara Cooley, North Ferrisburgh; Lindsey Brown, Ferrisburgh; Charlie Ayers, Vergennes;GlyndaMcKinnon,Vergennes;MatthewDeBlois,Ferrisburgh;SueRakowski,Vergennes; JodyChamberlin,Vergennes;JeffGlassberg,Waltham;KyleClark,Addison

CALLTOORDER:

Moderator David Tatlock called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m Board Chair Stroup explained howtoaccess thezoommeeting.

ADDITIONSORDELETIONSTOTHEAGENDA: None

Article1: Toelectthefollowingofficers: a) Moderator b) Clerk c) Treasurer

MotionbyJohnStroupsecondbyKatieQuinntoelecttheofficers.

John Stroup nominated David Tatlock for moderator, Tara Brooks for Clerk and Greg Burdick for treasured. Allinfavor.

Article2: Toauthorizestipendstobepaiddistrictofficersincludingthedirectors,clerkandtreasurer.

MotionbyTimBuskysecondedbyMarkKoenig.

Discussionofcurrentrates.

BoardChair$1275;Boardmember$800;Treasurer$4500;Clerk$150;Moderator$0

JohnStroupsharedcomparisonfromareadistrictsandsuggestedchanging Boardmember$1250;BoardChair$1750;Treasurer$5500;Clerk$500;Moderator$150

Tim Buskey asked how rates are set. John Stoup explained that rates are set at the annual meeting Discussionensued.

Motion made by John Stroup seconded by Tim Buskey to setstipendamountsfordistrictofficersinthe amountsof:

Boardmember$1250;BoardChair$1750;Treasurer$5500;Clerk$500;Moderator$150

Motionpasses.

Article3: ToauthorizetheBoardofDirectors,under16VSA562(9),toborrowmoneybyissuanceofbondsor

notesnotinexcessofanticipatedrevenuefortheschoolyear.

MotionbyJohnStroup, secondbyChrisKayhart.Discussionensured.Motionpassed

Article4: ToauthorizetheBoardofDirectorstoelectronicallydistributetheannualreport.

MotionmadebyMarySullivan,secondedbyKatieQuinn. Discussionensued. Motionpassed

Article5: ToelectacommunityrepresentativetoserveonthePatriciaA.HannafordCareerCenterDistrictBoard ofDirectorsforatermofthree(3)years.

MotionbyJohnStroup,secondedbyChrisKayhart. Discussionensued.

MaryCarol RossignolnominatedDanRossignolhearingnoothernominationsthemoderatorcalledfora vote. Votepassed.

Article6: TohearandactuponthereportsoftheAddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrictOfficers.

MotionbyChrisKayhartsecondedbyJohnStroup.

Tim Buskey congratulated the Board on having an audit completed in October. He asked if the informationwasmadepublic.

TimalsostatedthattheAnnualReportwasatreasuretroveofinformation.

Elizabeth Armstrong asked when the Addison school would be sold back to Addison. Superintendent Soulestatedthatthelawyersareworkingonthepaperwork.Elizabethfurtherrequestedacertificationof suitabilitybepresentedbeforetheAddisonSchoolisdeededbacktothetownofAddison.

TimBuskeyaskedforclarityonthebudgetsurplus.ExplanationwasprovidedbyElizabethArmstrong. MotionbyKatieQuinnsecondedbyChrisKayharttoadjourn.

Article7: ShallthevotersoftheAddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrictapprovetheBoardofSchoolDirectorsto expend $25,312,767.83 which is the amount the school board has determined to be necessary for the ensuingfiscalyear?

ThisarticlewillbevotedonbyAustralianballotonTownMeetingDay

Article8: ShallthevotersoftheAddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrictauthorizetheassignmentof$600,000pursuant to the provisions of 24 V.S.A. §2804, from the fiscal year 2022 fund balance to the ANWSD Capital ImprovementsFund,establishedbytheelectorateonMarch7,2017?

ThisarticlewillbevotedonbyAustralianballotonTownMeetingDay

ADJOURNMENTwithrecessuntilMarch7tovotebyAustralianballot.

Submittedby

TaraBrooks

DistrictClerk

DirectorsElected:

InvestmentPriorities

● Maintain Academic Program Offerings: We sustain all current academic programs to continue to providearobustlearningexperienceforallstudents.

● Preserve Co-Curricular and Enrichment Activities: Our commitment extends to maintaining co-curricular, athletics, and enrichment activities that contribute to the holistic development of our students.

● Enhance PreK Early Learning Program: We acknowledge the impacts of the pandemic on early learning and propose enhanced support for ourPreK programtoaddressthesechallenges.

● Improve Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: We continue many of the academic and behavioral interventions initiated after the pandemic to close theachievementgapbetweenpeergroups.

● Provide Wage Increases for Faculty and Staff: To attract and retain employees, we commit to wage increases as per new three-yearcontractstoremain competitiveintheregion.

BudgetDrivers

● FixedcostsplayasignificantroleintheFY25budget

○ Salary increases for staff and faculty to meet marketdemands

○ Healthinsurancecostshaverisenby16%

○ Transportationexpenseshaveincreasedby10%

● Commitment to maintaining and improving community facilities resulted in substantial debt obligations related to bonds issued for these infrastructureneeds

● Impacts of ACT 127 - relating to improving student equity by adjusting the school funding formula and providingeducationqualityandfundingoversight

● FederalESSERFundingends

TheamounttheDistrict planstospend

TherevenuestheDistrict anticipatesreceivingto offsetexpenditures

Theamountthatneedsto beraisedbystateand localeducationproperty taxes,augmentedby otherEducationFund revenues

$2,919,310 increase 11.5% increase minus(-) minus(-)

$303,280 increase 8.1%increase

equals(=) equals(=)

$2,616,032 increase 12.1%increase

FY25BUDGETPROPOSED

EXPENDITURES AddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrict 2024/2025BudgetProposedExpenditures

FY25BUDGETPROPOSEDREVENUE

AddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrict

2024/2025BudgetProposedRevenue

SPECIALREVENUEFUNDSFY23

AddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrict

CombiningScheduleofRevenues,ExpendituresandChangesInFundBalances

ForAllSpecialRevenue,CapitalProject,Agency,EnterpriseandPermanentFunds

FortheYearEndedJune30,2023

DescriptionofMajorFunds:

2101 FederalFormulaGrantforIndividualswithDisabilitiesEducationActPartB.Thisgrantallowstheschool districttoprovidefree,appropriate,educationtoallstudentswithdisabilities.

2106 ElementaryandSecondaryEducationActof1965TitleIPartAisaFederalformulagrantawardedto schooldistrictstohelpimprovetheteachingandlearningofstudentsatriskoffailure,tomeetthestate academicstandards.ThegrantisapartoftheConsolidatedFederalProgramGrants.

2124 FederalGrantthatsupportsourdistrictAfterschoolProgramming.ItisaCommunityLearningCenter Grant.

2139 ElementaryandSecondarySchoolEmergencyReliefFundinggrantedtoschooldistrictstopaydirect expensesrelatedtothepandemic.

2149 CommunitySchoolsFundinggrantedtoschooldistrictsforcommunityengagementandinvolvement activitiespostpandemic.

2201 FederalGranttoexpandthedistrictAfterschoolProgramming.AlsoaCommunityLearningCenterGrant.

2351 MedicaidReimbursementsthatcanbeusedbythedistrictforearlyinterventionservicestoallstudents.It isdesignedtoalignwithmeetingdistrictactionplangoals.FundingcomesfromMedicaidClaimsthrough theStateofVermont.

2353 MedicaidAdministrativeClaimsReimbursementsthatcanbeusedbythedistrictforHealth,Wellness, Nursing,Counselingservicestoallstudents.FundingcomesfromMedicaidClaimsthroughtheStateof Vermont.

2599 ThisFundtrackstheSchoolWideProgramportionoftheConsolidatedFederalProgramGrants.ThisFund isapprovedbytheStateofVermonttoallowfundsfromvariedrevenuesourcestoassistwithallthegoals ofanyConsolidatedFederalProgramGrantstrategies.

2801 StudentActivityFundsareAgencyFundsestablishedbystudentledfundraisingactivitiestobenefit studentsdirectlythroughextracurricularactivities.

2609 DistrictCooperativeFoodServicePrograminpartnershipwithMt.AbrahamUnifiedSchoolDistrict.Funding comesfromacombinationofparticipantpayments,GeneralOperatingcontributions,StateFunds,and FederalFunds.

2664-2665

3001-3006

6010

8001-8007

HealthCareandEducationStabilizationfundssetasideinReserveaccountswithvoterapprovalforusein fiscalyearswhereunanticipatedcostsriseabovethecurrentbudget.

CapitalReserveFundssetasidewithvoterapprovalforuseinfacilitiesimprovementorcapitalprojects.

AfterschoolChildcareProgram.FundingcomesfromacombinationofparticipantpaymentsandState Funds.

TheseScholarshipFundsarePermanentFundsestablishedtoawardscholarshipstostudentsforhigher education.

FUNDINGBALANCEANALYSIS

GeneralFund

(asofJune30,2023AuditedDraft)

➢ Per accounting guidelines and our Fund Balance Policy we designate the type of funds that make up ourtotal FundBalance.AsofJune30,2023theGeneralFundhasaPositiveFundBalancecomprisedofthefollowing:

Nonspendable(Prepaids)

Assigned(HealthReserve)

Assigned(EducationReserve)

Assigned(CapitalReserve)

Assigned(FY24Budget)

Unassigned

42,283

114,859

600,000

208,967

1,730,590

➢ The unassigned fund balance is the amount that must be determined to apply to designated reserves as approvedbyvotersorappliedtotheFY25budgetasrevenuetoreduceeducationspending.

ChildNutrition - In FY24, this program continues to operate through the Food Service CooperativeagreementwithMt. Abraham Unified School District. FY23 resulted in a positive Fund Balance of $57,882 of which $25,842isNonspendable (Inventory) and the remaining $32,040 Restricted. Restricted Fund Balance in an Enterprise or Special Revenue fund suchasthiscanbecarriedforwardtoFY24tooffsetfuturebudgetshortfalls.

Capital Project Funds – These funds are reserves set aside specifically for property improvements or repairs. To allocate funds from any given year to these reserves, the board must approve during the budget process, and then warn an article for voters to authorize. Last year, $600,000 was voter approved from FY22 surplus to add to these reserves. This amount is included above under the General Fund as Assigned Capital Reserve and was deposited in FY24. To use the funds from reserves, administration must proposetheuseandintendedprojecttotheboard,andthey mayapproveatadulywarnedboardmeeting.

HealthInsuranceReserveFund–This fund was approved by voters to establish and allocate up to an amount notto exceed $200,000. Accordingtotheapprovedwarning,fundscanbeallocatedtothisreserveaccountbasedonunspent budget funds specifically for Health Insurance Premiums or HRA/HSA account usage. In FY23, there was over $91,000 unspent in such accounts, however due to the approved caponthisreserve,thedistrictcannotaddanymorefundsto the account. Funds reserved in this account can be spent on Health Insurance Premiums or HRA/HSA usage that exceedsanygivenyear’sbudgetforsuch,withtheapprovaloftheboardatadulywarnedboardmeeting.

EducationStabilizationReserveFund–Thisfundwasapprovedbyvoterstoestablishandallocatefundsnottoexceed 4% of the current operating budget. $114,859 from FY22 surplus is included above under the General Fund as Assigned Education Reserve and was deposited in FY24. This fund is designed to pay for future budget shortfalls for items unforeseen in any givenyear’sbudgetprocess.Toutilizefundsfromthisreserve,administrationmusttrackunbudgeted items andproposefundingofanyitemsthatwerenotcoveredelsewhereinthecurrentyearbudgettotheboard,atthe close of each fiscal year. The board has the authority to approve the usage at a duly warned board meeting. During FY23 Management identified unbudgeted expenditures in the amount of $420,837 and the board approved use of this fund. At the close of the fiscal year, this contributed to the surplus in the general fund because there were other accountswithunspentbudgetedfunds.TheboardhasagreedtoreturnthesefundstotheReservefundinFY25.

PrincipalLong-TermDebtServiceasofJune30,2023:

AddisonBuilding

FerrisburghCentralSchool

NoCurrentLoansorBondNotes.

TwocurrentBondNoteswithPrincipalBalancesof$600,000and$304,000. ThesenotesmatureinNovember2030,andNovember2027,respectively.

VergennesElementarySchool NoCurrentLoansorBondNotes.

VergennesUnionMiddle/HighSchool

AddisonNorthwestSchoolDistrict

OnecurrentBondNotewithaPrincipalBalanceof$1,680,000. ThisnotematuresNovember2034.

OnePerformanceContractBondNotewithaPrincipalBalanceof$6,782,222.

ThisnotematuresNovember2038.

FY25CALCULATIONSFORPROPOSEDBUDGET

OurTotalLocalEducationSpendingamountof$24,204,337.51isthefirstandonlyfigureusedincalculatingouruniontax ratethatwehavecontrolover. TheothercomponentsintheformulaareestimatessuppliedbytheStateofVermont.

**AllfiguresusedincalculationsaresubjecttochangesbytheStateLegislature**

Theestimateduniontaxrateisdividedbyeachtown’sCommonLevelofAppraisal(CLA)assetbytheVermont DepartmentofTaxestodetermineeachtown’staxrate.Theschooldistrictisnotresponsibleforthesecalculations.

LocalLiaison: PeterGarrecht

802-877-3332

StateCoordinator: BethMeyer

802-479-3112

ServicesforChildrenwithDisabilities

AttentionresidentsofAddison,Ferrisburgh,Panton,Vergennes,andWaltham:

Addison Northwest School District offers special education services to eligible childrenthreethrough21,andearlyinterventionforchildrenbirthtoagethree.

Eligible students with disabilities areentitledtoreceiveafree,appropriate,public education.

ANWSD may not be aware of all resident children and youth with a disability. If you know of a childwhohasadisabilityandisnotinschool,homeless,attending an independent school, enrolled in homestudy,ornototherwisebeingeducated at publicexpense,pleasenotifyusbycontactingyourlocalschoolprincipalorby calling 802-877-3332 ext. 2113, or writing: Peter Garrecht, Interim Director of StudentSupportServices,ANWSD,11MainStreet,SuiteB100,Vergennes,VT 05491