Current Valuable Links

Legislature is now back into session. The first 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!

Lawbook and Resource Directory Order Form (one time purchase)
This order form should be used to place one time purchases of the lawbook or the 2008-2011 School Board Resource Directory..

2009 Vermont Education Lawbook Standing Ordering Modification Form
The VSBA offers a standing order service to interested parties. If you would like to sign up for the standing order (first time) please use the above form. If you have received your standing order notification and need to make an adjustment please use this form to complete your business name and any adjustment that needs to be made.

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 November edition of From the Board Room has been released. We now have the newsletter available interactively. Please visit the printer friendly version of the November newsletter in Acrobat.

The VSBA realizes the value of board members networking and asking and answering questions of one another. We have added a Member to Member page on our website. Does your board have a situation that other boards have probably faced in the past or may be currently working through? Why not place a question on the bulletin board for one of the other 1,487 board members statewide to respond. The questions and answers are anonymous. The answer can help your board and may help others with the same issue.