WSESD Communications Council Meeting Minutes

II. Brattleboro board seat outreach: discuss plans for “meet ups” to encourage board candidacy in Brattleboro (bring suggestions to 8/8/23 board meeting).

The committee reviewed outreach suggestions:
● a radio ad
● outreach by superintendent to former teachers
● request for principals to send a message to currently enrolled families


BCTV Schedules – Week of August 7, 2023

BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 8/7/23

Monday, August 7, 2023

4:00 am Collegiate A Cappella Concert – 19th Annual A Cappella Concert 4/15/23

6:00 am Around Town with Maria – Swords to Plowshares 4/29/23

7:45 am Juno Orchestra – Heavens Border – Suite for String Orchestra

8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast


Lisa McCormick on “Here We Are”

“Let music change your life!” LISA McCORMICK captures the power and beauty of music – with her voice, her playing, and her generosity in sharing with everyone. As she says, “Music is Art made of Sound”…..Listen in!


Author Kat Vellos to Discuss Friendship in Adulthood at Next Stage Arts

Join Next Stage Arts on Tuesday, August 29 at 7:00pm for an interactive fireside with author Kat Vellos all about friendship in adulthood. What are the biggest challenges of adult friendship and how can we overcome them? How do we “make new friends and keep the old”? What is social wellness and how does it factor into our overall health and wellbeing? And how can we create more meaningful connections with coworkers, who are often the primary source of new friends in adulthood? We’ll dig into all this and more. The fireside chat will be followed by a Q&A so come with your questions too. The discussion will take place at Next Stage Arts, 15 Kimball Hill, in Putney.

“Cultivating meaningful relationships can be a challenge, and as we look to the future of creating a region that is welcoming and inviting to all people, expanding our toolbox can only be a positive thing,” says Keith Marks, Executive Director of Next Stage Arts. “Kat Vellos’ work focuses on creating meaningful platonic relationships and fostering a stronger community dynamic. This evening with Vellos is something we could all use to live in a more civil, connected community.”


WSESD Board Meeting Minutes July 25, 2023

Summary:
● The administration provided updates about District summer camps, use of school buildings as emergency shelters, PCB abatement and window replacement project at Oak Grove School, and the BUHS mascot rebranding process, and a presentation about the school climate surveys conducted in the spring.
● WSESD Head Start classrooms at the Canal Street School will move to Birge Street in the fall and the administrators and Special Education team is developing plans for utilizing space at Canal Street to provide services for more pre-K students with special educational needs.
● The board adopted the following updated policies: E17 Fire and Emergency Preparedness Drills, H8 Access Control and Visitor Management, and F42 Dress Code, which will replace all previous dress codes in WSESD schools, including LSP1, the former BUHS dress code.


BCTV Schedules Week of July 31

BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 7/31/23

Monday, July 31, 2023

4:00 am Collegiate A Cappella Concert – 19th Annual A Cappella Concert 4/15/23

6:00 am Around Town with Maria – Swords to Plowshares 4/29/23

7:45 am Juno Orchestra – Heavens Border – Suite for String Orchestra

8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast


NXT Gallery Presents an Exhibit of Works by Vermont Center for Photography Artists

This small group exhibit, entitled “Four Perspectives,” represents the work of Al Karevy, Davida Carta, Joshua Farr, & Vaune Trachtman, four different local artists who are members of the Vermont Center for Photography in downtown Brattleboro. Each of these artists create photographic work covering a diverse range of style and subject matter, though are unified via a shared passion for the photographic arts and its many expressive possibilities. Each of the four artists will be displaying a small selection from a body of work, giving a greater context to their creative vision and process.


“Here We Are” with Kathy Urffer

As Vt. River Steward for the Connecticut River Conservancy, KATHY URFFER talks about our relationship to the natural world, and the myth of separation.   Tune in for a new perspective on our connection to the mighty Connecticut River which flows right alongside us.


BCTV Schedules – Week of July 24, 2023

BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 7/24/23

Monday, July 24, 2023

5:30 am Springfield Humane Society – July 2023 Adoptables

6:00 am Brattleboro Literary Festival – A Path Lit by Lightning: David Maraniss on Jim Thorpe

7:00 am Windham Solid Waste Management District Presents – Outreach Successes: Webinar 6/28/23

8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast


Bandwagon Summer Series Brings Vermont Institution Bread & Puppet to Putney

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents beloved Vermont institution Bread & Puppet, bringing their touring production to Putney on Thursday, August 24 at 6:00 pm at the Grammar School at 159 Grammar School Lane, in Putney, Vermont.

The Bread and Puppet Theater celebrates their 60th anniversary with The Mother Dirt Circus!
Audiences will delight as Bread and Puppet draws on its distinctive iconography to call attention to the urgent issues of the day. Young and old will thrill to see stilt dancers and paper maché beasts of all sizes accompanied by the riotous Bread and Puppet Circus Brass Band. A colorful spectacle of protest and celebration performed under the Vermont summer sky.

Sourdough rye with aioli will be offered after the performance and The Bread and Puppet Press and Cheap Art Emporium will be open for your perusal.


Windham Southeast School District Board Meeting Agenda

AGENDA
I. Call To Order – 6:00pm – Kelly Young, Board Chair
II. Student Matters (5-10 minutes)
III. Administrative Report –
* Hires / Resignations / Retirements
* Summer Programming
* Update on contingency plans for buildings to be utilized as shelters in the event of future climate emergencies
* Update on BUHS re-branding and mascot selection – Action Required
* Update on selection of Restorative Justice Coordinator – Possible Action Required


Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series Presents Afrobeat Ensemble Armo

The Next Stage Bandwagon Summer Series presents Afrobeat ensemble Armo, on Friday, August 18 at 6:00 pm at the Retreat Farm, 45 Farmhouse Square, in Brattleboro, VT.

Armo’s intimate and energetic sound focuses on classic and contemporary Afrobeat.

Founded by longtime Antibalas bandmates vocalist/keyboardist Amayo, trumpeter/percussionist Jordan McLean, percussionist/vocalist Marcus Farrar, guitarist/keyboardist Nikhil P. Yerawadekar, drummer Kevin Raczka, and bassist Justin Kimmel, Armo creates spontaneous arrangements of the music of Fela Anikulapo Kuti, The Daktaris, Ebo Taylor, William Onyeabor, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, and original rhythm-based music.

This 5-8 piece band features a revolving cast from the Daptone Records family and NY Afrobeat Scene. Members of the band now include Dave “Smoota” Smith on trombone/keyboards, bassists/guitarists Binky Griptite and Timothy James, saxophonist/keyboardist Tony Jarvis, and drummer Dylan Fusillo.


WSESD Social Justice Committee Meeting Minutes

The Social Justice Committee will be bringing the following recommendations to the
WSESD Board and Policy and Amendment Committee meetings for consideration:

● The 2021-22 WSESD Social Justice committee developed three questions related to diversity and equity that should be included on all job applications. Currently only part of the first question seems to be included on job listings. The Social Justice Committee recommends that this be remedied and that all three questions are asked on every job listing for the district.


BCTV Schedules – Week of July 17, 2023

BCTV Channel 1078 Weekly Listing for 7/17/23

Monday, July 17, 2023

4:25 am The Talk – Professional People of Color in VT

6:00 am Collegiate A Cappella Concert – 19th Annual A Cappella Concert 4/15/23

7:55 am Next Stage Arts – Bandwagon Summer Series 2023 Featuring Underground System

8:00 am Democracy Now! – Democracy Now! Daily Broadcast


Guilford Brass Band Concert Postponed

Christ Church Society sadly announces that the Celebration Brass Band concert scheduled for Sunday has been postponed due to a particularly wet weather forecast (even by the standards of the past week!)

Even Gov. Scott has proclaimed Sunday a miserable weather day.


WSESD Personnel Committee Meeting Minutes

On a motion by Kim Price, the minutes of June 7, 2023 were approved.

On a motion by Anne Beekman, the committee accepted the recommendation of administration to hire Kerri Beebe, WSESU PreK Coordinator.

On a motion by Anne Beekman, the committee accepted the recommendation of administration to hire Tara Sullivan, BUHS Special Education teacher.