FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deborah Stanford, Board Chair
Windham Southeast School District
WINDHAM SOUTHEAST SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD JOINS THE RURAL SCHOOL COMMUNITY ALLIANCE TO ADVOCATE FOR RURAL EDUCATION IN VERMONT
[BRATTLEBORO, VT–April 15, 2025] As state legislators and Governor Phil Scott draft and release plans for drastic education reform, the Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Board voted unanimously to join the Rural School Community Alliance (RSCA) on February 11, 2025. RSCA is a coalition of Vermonters that advocates for the importance of rural community public schools and for a democratic voice in decision-making about their future. The RSCA’s goal is to encourage legislators to pursue meaningful property tax reform that strengthens Vermont’s future while maintaining support for high-quality, equitable, cost-effective rural schools.
In addition to joining the coalition, the WSESD Board has committed $4,626 to support RSCA’s efforts. This donation, which represents $2 per student in the district, will help fund the hiring of a lobbyist to amplify the voices of our schools in Montpelier. This action is a strategy to ensure local voices are heard at the state house. This dedicated professional will identify areas where RSCA members can have the most impact, organize members and other stakeholders to testify, communicate effectively with legislators, and maximize our collective influence.
The RSCA is open to new members. Joining is free and straightforward. If a school board, parent organization or selectboard wishes to become a member or would like more information, please email vtschoolsrock@gmail.comwith the name of a lead contact and their email address. Contacts will be added to a Google group for communication purposes.
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The Windham Southeast School District Board of Directors oversees the operations of schools in the towns of Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, and Putney. It is made up of ten elected Directors; four (4) from Brattleboro, two (2) from Dummerston, two (2) from Guilford and two (2) from Putney. For more information visit https://wsesu.org/wsesd-board/
