Education section
Gender Freedom in Schools
This policy has been reviewed by counsel. The attorney counsels caution, and points out that the law is always fluid, and that there are consequences for not following the law. The Agency of Education counsels the use of district policy on HHB.
Summary
● Leadership Council and Committee assignments were established.
● The Board determined that they will follow Robert’s Rules for Small Boards and confirmed Board Norms.
● A committee was established to explore the Board goal setting process.
● Donation of $4,626,00 made to the Rural Community School Alliance was approved.
● Approved 3 policies.
Mark presented the board with documents detailing our SU’s current system of Supervision, Observation & Evaluation for certified staff. New teachers are evaluated during their 1st and 2nd years and then afterwards on a 3 year cycle. A committee was created including members of the Curriculum office, BAMS and BUHS personnel as well as representatives from the elementary schools so that there was a full Pre-K – 12 lens on this issue. The committee is proposing a newly formatted template that will be discussed at the April Admin meeting. The intent is to create a common structure that can be used across all schools.
Attached, please find the minutes from the 03/11 Re-Organizational and Public Info meeting of the WSESD Board
F8 Student Medication
Invited Attendee: Rebecca Olmstead, Nurse Leader
Since the last meeting, RO met with the district doctor regarding this policy, and the doctor approved the draft brought to the committee today. The committee read the new draft aloud, and in consultation with RO, made a number of edits for clarity, consistency, and accuracy. The last two paragraphs (non-prescriptions medications and the concluding paragraph) were reviewed after RO had to leave the meeting, and these will need to be reviewed again. The procedures section was not reviewed.
Official recount results are in, for the Guilford seat on the Board of Directors of the Windham Southeast School District: There has been no change to the number of votes for each candidate from Guilford. Jocelyn Fritts has been duly elected to the Board of Directors.
V. Presentation
– What is our Supervision/Evaluation Process to ensure quality staff for our students?
The Town Clerks of Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford and Putney have confirmed that they and members of their Boards of Civil Authority will come together in each town for a recount of the contested Guilford 3-year seat on the Board of the WSESD.
Candidates and members of the public are welcome to observe the recount. Time and locations for the re-count:
III. Evaluate
– F8 Student Medication (2:00-3:00) Invited attendee: Rebecca Olmstead, Nurse Leader
– Assess Draft of statement re Students with Immigration Status [Mikaela and Shannon]
– Gender Freedom in Schools – Proposed new policy
The Windham Southeast School District announces that a recount has been requested in the election results for the three-year Guilford seat on the WSESD Board of Directors. Candidates were Jocelyn Fritts, having received 1128 votes and Kelly Young, having received 1100 votes.
The total vote tallies are reported in a “commingled” manner, as per 16 V.S.A. § 741(3). “The articles of agreement as initially approved by the voters on or before July 1, 2019 explicitly provide that the board of civil authority of each town within the unified union school district shall count Australian ballots cast in that town and report that town’s results to the district clerk, who shall calculate total votes cast within the unified union school district and report the result of the vote to the public.”
The unofficial tallies are in, from Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford, and Putney.
The unofficial election results for the WSESD Board of Directors are as follows:
Summary
● The Board debriefed two important Summits held in the past two weeks, 2/12/25 with the three School Boards and 2/24/25 with local legislators.
● The Board accepted, with regret, the resignation of Christopher Brewer, Dean of Students at BUHS.
● Three policies (D1, F16, F28) were presented to the Board for a first reading.
● The Board entered Executive Session under 1VSA §313 (a)(1)(A) Contracts.
On a Motion by Elie and seconded by Maggie the committee unanimously approved the draft for publication pending any comments from Frank Rucker, WSESD business manager.
Kristina referred the committee to the motion from the past meeting authorizing Maggie and Kristina to incorporate edits before releasing the report if Frank has minor changes. The committee agreed to let the motion stand, and Kristina agreed to hold an emergency meeting if any issues arise in the next few days which would require substantive rewrites.
IV. Overview of Governor Scott’s “Education Transformation Proposal: a proposed reform of Vermont’s current system of education and funding.”
Dan McArthur Rural School Alliance gave an overview of the Governor’s proposal for educational reforms and gave remarks on behalf of the rural school alliance.
Emilie Kornheiser also gave remarks regarding educational reform proposal and various funding mechanisms
II. Evaluate
– Assess Draft of statement re Students with Immigration Status [Mikaela and Shannon]
– Gender Freedom in Schools – Proposed new policy
F34 Transgender and Gender Creative Students Policy
The committee discussed the question of whether a policy in support of immigrant students should be developed, a topic that was also under discussion at the board meeting on 2/11/25. MS cautioned that Pietro has advised to stay away from a new policy, and instead to focus on law and procedure. A vision statement would be fine and would be a way to send a message to the community.
I. Call to Order
II. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items [6:05-6:15]
III. Purpose of tonight’s Special Board Meeting
Introduction of invited Legislators and other guests
IV. Overview of Governor Scott’s “ Education Transformation Proposal: a proposed reform of Vermont’s current system of education and funding.”
The Windham Southeast School District Independent Budget Review Committee will meet Monday, February 17, 2025 at 7:00PM at the Austine Campus and via zoom.
The Windham Southeast School District Finance Committee will meet Tuesday February 11, 2025 at 5:00pm Cusick Conference Room BUHS / WRCC
The Windham Southeast School District Independent Budget Review Committee will meet Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 5:00PM via zoom.
III. Future discussion areas:
a. High School Preparedness: How can this committee support equity regarding middle schoolers being prepared for BUHS? – volunteer for reaching out to Mark again.
