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WSESD Board Meeting Minutes Aug 12, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Summary
● The Board voted to approve the submission of the Non-Federal Waiver request for Head Start and the Supplemental Funds for Nutrition and Healthy Eating for Head Start Children and Families.
● The Board voted on the language added to the statement to the Redistricting Task Force.
● The Board discussed and determined to hold the first Summit meetings with the three Boards.
● Committee membership was reviewed for the upcoming school year. Commitment to Leadership Councils (LCs) will be discussed at the next meeting.
● Board goal setting and the development of a district calendar are two topics that are actively being addressed.
● Discussion of the Board’s oversight related to harassment, bullying and hazing was held.
● Members of the Board will craft language for a statement for future Board consideration to provide information to the public regarding Act 73 and ways to learn more.

Global Rhythms Meet Old-Time Fiddle: The Gaslight Tinkers + Sammy & Brothers in Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts’ Bandwagon Summer Series continues on Saturday, September 13 at Cooper Field, 41 Sand Hill Road, Putney, VT with a high-energy, genre-blending double bill. Music starts at 5:00 pm (gates open at 4:00 pm), with The Gaslight Tinkers bringing their infectious fusion of African, Caribbean, funk, reggae, and Latin grooves with traditional fiddle music — a joyful mash-up that’s as danceable as it is unexpected.

Since forming in 2012, The Gaslight Tinkers have electrified audiences across the U.S. and the Caribbean, headlining clubs, dances, and major festivals. The Valley Advocate calls their sound “music that consistently fizzes and pops with unexpected textures and turns.” With members Peter Siegel, Garrett Sawyer, I-Shea, Eliezer Martinez, and Clara Constance-Stickney — veterans of stages alongside Pete Seeger, the Soca Monarchs of the Caribbean, Noel Paul Stookey, and The Alchemystics — the band delivers exuberant musicianship that lifts both feet and spirits.

Windham Southeast Supervisory Union School Board Minutes — August 13, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

On a motion by Kim Price, the board voted to amend the minutes of June 11th by adding the words “regarding the ability to extend the contract for an additional year” so the section will now read in its entirety “The board reviewed the proposed new policy – Superintendent Evaluation and Contract. A discussion followed and the chair will reach out to our attorney with a clarifying question regarding the ability to extend the contract for an additional year.”

Puzzling Bird Collages

by ann.newsmith | Arts

Lifelong mixed media collage artist Elizabeth Lewis is showing some “puzzling bird miniatures” at All Souls Church, UU during the month of August. Please join us for a reception on Sunday the 17th at 11:30 AM.

Elizabeth is a resident of Putney and a member of ASC. Her first show was here at the then named West Village Meetinghouse in 1981, the year she moved to Vermont from Los Angeles.

Cai Xi on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

Take a listen and look into Cai Xi’s life – early years in China, her painting heritage from classical to abstract, founding CX Silver Gallery, the arts of Dim Sum cooking and Tai Chi in the community…and she’s doing it all here in Brattleboro.

WSESD Board Meeting Agenda Aug 12, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

IV. Request from Deb Gass for Board approval for the following: [5 minutes]
– Head Start Non-Federal Waiver Request for Approval
– One-Time Supplemental Funds for Nutrition and Healthy Eating for Head Start Children and Families Submission for Approval

Artist’s Reception for Collage Artist Elizabeth Lewis

by ann.newsmith | Arts

Lifelong mixed-media collage artist Elizabeth Lewis is showing some “puzzling bird miniatures” at All Souls Church in West Brattleboro during the month of August. A reception for the artist will be held on Sunday, August 17, from 11.30 am to 1 pm.

Elizabeth is a resident of Putney and a member of ASC. She had her first show at the then-named West Village Meetinghouse in 1981, the year she moved to Vermont from Los Angeles, California.

Crocodile River Music Brings African Rhythms and Culture to Brattleboro in Next Stage’s Bandwagon Summer Series

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts continues its 15th Anniversary Bandwagon Summer Series with Crocodile River Music, an exhilarating celebration of African music, art, and culture on Saturday, September 6 at 5:00 PM (gates open at 4:00 PM). The event takes place at the Living Memorial Park Rotary Stage in Brattleboro and features food from local favorite Smokin’ Bowls.

Known for its electrifying live performances and deep cultural roots, Crocodile River Music brings together internationally acclaimed artists from Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Tanzania, and the U.S. With vibrant percussion, intricate rhythms, and powerful vocals, the ensemble creates a joyous and immersive experience that goes far beyond entertainment. Their mission is rooted in connection—connecting audiences to the rich traditions of African music and art, and encouraging further exploration of the continent’s cultural heritage.

Whether you’re a lifelong fan of world music or simply curious, this show is designed to engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds. A dedicated kids’ play area, free admission for children under 12, and a relaxed outdoor setting make it a perfect family outing.

Next Stage Celebrates Celtic and Québécois Traditions at Scott Farm, Sept. 1

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts continues its Bandwagon Summer Series with a vibrant outdoor celebration of Celtic and Québécois music on Monday, September 1st at 3:00 PM at the scenic Scott Farm in Dummerston. The Celtic & Québécois Festival features three powerhouse acts—Cantrip, Keith Murphy & Yann Falquet, and Cécilia—for an afternoon of spirited tunes, rich harmonies, and deep-rooted tradition.

With swirling border pipes, fiery fiddle tunes, and driving rhythms, Cantrip lives up to its name—an old Scots word for a magic spell or charm. Born out of Edinburgh’s folk sessions two decades ago, the band has become a festival favorite for their high-octane arrangements and adventurous musicality. Blending traditional roots with unexpected influences like funk, klezmer, and swing, Cantrip conjures a spellbinding live experience.

Next Stage Hosts Opening Reception for Briony Morrow-Cribbs Exhibit, Quiet Witness

by hahrenholz | Arts

Putney, VT — Next Stage Arts invites the community to the opening reception for Quiet Witness: An Homage to the Flora and Fauna of Vermont, a new exhibit of intricate etchings by Vermont-based artist Briony Morrow-Cribbs. The reception takes place Friday, August 29, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the NXT Gallery, located at 15 Kimball Hill in Putney. All are welcome; RSVPs are encouraged at nextstagearts.org.

Quiet Witness showcases a richly detailed menagerie of real and imagined creatures, rendered through Morrow-Cribbs’s decades-long practice as a printmaker and etcher. A self-described animal empath, she uses her art to explore what it might feel like to experience the world through the instincts and perspective of other species.

Raised on Washington’s Whidbey Island and now based in Dummerston, Morrow-Cribbs brings a deep reverence for both wilderness and craft. Her work has appeared in best-selling books, including Wicked Plants and Wicked Bugs by Amy Stewart, and in solo exhibitions across the country. Her prints are created through a painstaking etching process that dates back to her childhood, when she first learned the technique from her father.

The Glyptodons – Folk Rock Concert August 9

by RDavis | Music

The Seattle-based folk rock group, the Glyptodons, will return to Brattleboro for a backyard concert on Saturday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m. at 63 Cedar Street. Band members include Sean Ahern on vocals and acoustic guitar, Diana Rowey, vocals and electric guitar/ukulele and Colin Ahern, bass guitar.

The Ahern brothers are Brattleboro area natives.

Gypsy Jazz Meets Balkan Swing in a High-Energy Bandwagon Double Bill: Rhythm Future Quartet and DiTrani Brothers Perform August 23 at Putney Inn Field

by hahrenholz | Music

Next Stage Arts continues its Bandwagon Summer Series with a twin bill of genre-bending acoustic brilliance: Rhythm Future Quartet and The DiTrani Brothers perform on Saturday, August 23 at 6:00 PM at the Putney Inn Field, 57 Putney Landing Road in Putney, VT. Gates open at 5:00 PM. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the gate, and free for children under 12. Food will be available from Smokin’ Bowls.

This all-ages outdoor concert promises a vibrant mix of gypsy jazz, Balkan folk, and early American swing—an unforgettable evening of music under the summer sky.

Kimberly Carmody on “Here We Are”

by Wendy O'Connell | Arts

KIMBERLY CARMODY is “Bringing it all back home”. River Gallery School of Art has been her locus and inspiration, from her first art class in 1976 to becoming Executive Director in 2023. In between, she’s traveled and taught and painted and is back in Brattleboro – a perfectly drawn full circle.

Caribbean Vibes and New Orleans Soul Head to Putney for Bandwagon Summer Series

by hahrenholz | Music

Putney, VT — The Bandwagon Summer Series rolls into the Putney Inn Field on Saturday, August 16 at 6:00 PM, bringing with it a wave of island rhythms and joyful melodies for a midsummer night to remember. Headlining the evening is Charlie & The Tropicales, the 1960s-style Caribbean lounge band led by New Orleans trombone maestro Charlie Halloran. Opening the show is the ever-soulful Heather Pierson Trio, offering a vibrant blend of jazz, folk, and blues.

Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the gate, and kids under 12 get in free. Food will be provided by Smokin’ Bowls, and a dedicated kids’ play area ensures the whole family can enjoy the night.

StompBoxTrio Brings Soulful Roots Music to Twilight on the Tavern Lawn Series in Putney

by hahrenholz | Music

PUTNEY — Twilight Music and Next Stage Arts Project continue their beloved summer tradition with the 22nd Twilight on the Tavern Lawn concert series, presenting StompBoxTrio on Sunday, August 10 at 6:00 PM. The concert will take place on the Putney Tavern lawn in downtown Putney—bring a lawn chair or blanket for a relaxing evening of roots-infused rhythms under the open sky. In case of rain, the show will move indoors to Next Stage at 15 Kimball Hill.

The Twilight on the Tavern Lawn series has become a hallmark of summer in Windham County, offering a diverse lineup of bluegrass, Americana, world, swing, and pop music every other Sunday through August 24. Now in its 22nd year, the free concert series is supported by Next Stage Arts, the Town of Putney, Rod’s, and a host of local businesses and organizations. Food will be available on site, and while the concerts are free, donations are welcome to help sustain the series.

Banjo Brilliance in Bellows Falls: Tony Trischka’s “EarlJam”

by hahrenholz | Music

As summer rolls on in Southern Vermont, so does the Bandwagon Summer Series, bringing family-friendly outdoor performances to ballfields, farms, and parks across Putney, Brattleboro, and Bellows Falls. On Saturday, August 9 at 6:00 PM, the series hits a high note with a very special show: Tony Trischka’s EarlJam, a heartfelt musical tribute to bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs, at Robertson Paper Company Field in Bellows Falls.

Opening the evening are The Stockwell Brothers, beloved local favorites known for their rich vocal harmonies and contemporary folk/bluegrass blend.

WSESD Board Meeting Minutes – July 8, 2025

by Not Signed In | Education

Summary
– The Board welcomed two new student representatives for the 25-26 school year.
– Universal Pre K contracts were approved for the upcoming school year.
– A summary will be requested from Legal Counsel of work and cases litigated, settled or considered for litigation or currently awaiting resolution involving WSESD/SU in the past three years.
– In light of the approval of bill H.454 by the Senate and House of Representatives on June 16, 2025, the WSESD board voted to remain within a Supervisory Union within a larger governance region to the extent practical to the new redistricting task force.