Windham Southeast School District
Finance Committee Meeting – Monday November 24, 2025
5:00 pm WSESU James Kane Conference Room
53 Green St. Brattleboro, VT
Members:,
Ruby McAdoo, Tim Maciel, Kim Price, Brian Remer, Deborah Stanford, Frank Rucker
Independent Budget Review Committee (IBRC):
Kerry Amidon, Rich Leavy, Maggie Foley
Others Present:
Mark Speno, Hannah Parker, Nancy Wiese, Keith Lyman, Aaron Walsh, Martha Noyes
Board Recorder:
Tracey Drotts
Agenda
KP called the meeting of the WSESD Finance Committee to order at 5:01 pm
1. Approval of Minutes
DS MOTIONED TO APPROVED THE MINUTES OF THE 11/17/25 FINANCE COMMITTEE.
SECONDED.
VOTE WAS CALLED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. FY27 Preliminary Budget Development – Draft Secondary WSESD District Budget Proposal
WSESD FY27 Proposed Secondary Budget Summary
WSESD FY27 Proposed Secondary Budget Detail
This document provides information to help understand the account numbers.
Martha Noyes – Brattleboro resident, read a statement, found here.
Frank Rucker reviewed the proposed budget summary (linked above). The percent change is currently at a 2% change. When developing a budget, meeting student needs as well as inflation rates are heavily considered in order to put forth a fiscally responsible budget.
Nancy Wiese shared information about the budget development for WRCC. She spoke to the challenge specific to WRCC; if a position is reduced, then a program is eliminated. Using carefully designed solutions, this year she is able to present a zero increase budget. This will not be sustainable in the future, but is the case this year. Currently the culinary program is being rebuilt and will be offered again next year.
Keith Lyman spoke about the transition of graduating a smaller 8th grade while expecting a larger incoming 7th grade. The student population at BAMS for the 26-27 school year shows about a 60 student increase. The budget presented for FY27 does not have a significant increase. Currently there is discussion working to determine if it is possible to hire a restorative justice employee (part time or full time).
Hannah Parker discussed the challenges the high school is facing. There are increases in staffing costs that cannot be altered (like signing up for health insurance when this was not a benefit utilized in previous years). There are also several employees that were expensive hires. Transportation related to athletics has become very costly, the athletic director works diligently to keep that expense down where possible. Ms. Parker also spoke about the reduction of the culinary arts program at the high school. Students who are interested in culinary arts will be able to fold into the WRCC program that will be re-starting in the fall.
To see the detail related to the secondary schools:
Brattleboro Union High School — pages 1-26
Brattleboro Area Middle School — pages 27 – 38
Windham Regional Career Center – pages 39 – 51
To hear the full discussion of this evening’s meeting, view the recording found here.
KPMOTIONED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING OF THE WSESD FINANCE
COMMITTEE MEETING. SECONDED.
VOTE WAS CALLED. MOTIONED PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Meeting of the WSESD Finance Committee was adjourned at 6:11 pm.
