Creating Learning Communities Through School Board Leadership
The Vermont School Boards Association is a non-profit membership organization serving school board members around the state. VSBA's sole mission is to improve, on an ongoing basis, high quality learning opportunities for Vermont students by supporting those locally elected officials responsible for overseeing the public schools. VSBA serves as an education resource, a provider of education, training and a variety of other services, and an advocacy voice for local school officials.
Video Stream
of the Month
Board Reorganization
This 5 minute video discusses the school board meeting following Town Meeting when board organize for the coming year.
Handouts for video (Acrobat format)
Legislature is now in session. The CURRENT Legislative Update is available. For more school board legislative information please visit our Legislative link.
The Woodbury Governance Study is available in two formats, MSWord and Acrobat.The Woodbury Powerpoint given at the public hearing can be found at http://www.vtvsba.org/woodburyppt.pdf
“Opportunity to Learn..Defining Vermont Education for a New Generation of Learners” is the report of the State Board of Education’s Education Transformation Policy Commission, released on December 15, 2009. Read its recommendations on school district reorganization, education quality standards and more at this link.
The most recent VSBA newsletter references the Roots of Success: Effective Practices in Vermont Schools Report. The report can be viewed in FULL (63 pages), a 10 page summary, or a 5 page short summary are available.
Through a large-scale survey of more than 2,000 Vermont teachers in 87 schools across the state, as well as intensive site visits to three schools that are “beating the odds” (schools whose Reading and Mathematics scores on state assessments defy expectations and exceed those of other schools with similar demographics), the study uncovered a set of attitudes and beliefs, as well as specific school practices, that are associated with student, particularly low-income, success. These characteristics form the foundation for school effectiveness and are essential to ensuring that all children, regardless of background or socioeconomic status, reach their full potential.
The VSBA offers a brochure of information for community members considering running for the school board. The brochure includes qualifications, duties and the process involved to become a school board member.
This website also holds many educational opportunities for candidates. Please consider viewing the streaming videos and the school board resource directory among the many other pages found in this website. Good luck!
The VSBA Board of Directors has approved for discussion a draft proposal for significant changes to the statutory assignment of duties to supervisory unions, school administrators, and school boards. Please read the following note from Executive Director John Nelson regarding the rationale for issuing governance proposals now, and a brief overview of the draft's proposals. To read the full proposal, click on the Draft Legislation Link.
The January edition of From the Board Room has been released. We now have the newsletter available interactively.