VSBA Around Vermont

by Winton Goodrich, Associate Director

Vermont School Boards Association

 

Printer Friendly Versions:

MSWord

Acrobat

 

Governance Studies 

I presented governance study options to a Windham Central SU committee; the Newfane and Brookline Districts have just developed a joint contract school.  The new entity is called the New Brook Joint Contract School.

 

The Woodbury governance study continues to move forward.  A UVM team is hosting focus groups to gather community information that will be used to shape future direction for elementary and high school education.

 

The North and South Hero Districts are moving forward with a two-part governance study process.  Both districts will host community forums in November.  A tentative community vote date of January 19th is being considered.  Voters will decide whether to close the North Hero Elementary School and to designate the South Hero Elementary School for tuition purposes.  Related governance conversations are also underway in the county between Grand Isle, Isle La Motte, and Alburgh.

 

The Addison Central SU Board has contracted with the VSBA to facilitate a phase I governance study.

 

Addison Northwest has rekindled their unified union governance study and is working with the Vermont Rural Development organization to facilitate community discussions.

 

Board Roles and Goals

VSBA staff facilitated a board self-assessment survey and goal development process with the Mt. Mansfield Union High School Board.

 

The VSBA staff facilitated other board development activities with Vernon Elementary, Johnson Elementary, Irasburg, and the North Country Union High School Boards and administrators.

Strategic Planning

The VSBA staff completed the Springfield, Georgia, Barnet, Danville, and Walden strategic planning processes.  All districts now have a multi-year implementation plan. 

 

The Peacham Elementary Board is using the VSBA resources to complete their strategic planning process this year.

 

Policy Governance

There are currently 18 school districts that are implementing a Policy Governance system.  Winooski is the latest school district to consider transitioning to a Policy Governance model.  The VSBA staff has provided a Policy Governance overview for the Monkton, Johnson, and Mt. Mansfield Boards.  Susan Edsall, a national Policy Governance consultant presented a number of workshops for districts currently implementing and new districts interested to learn more about the PG system.

 

Superintendent Searches

Superintendent searches are underway in the following supervisory unions/districts:

Rutland  South

Orange East

Montpelier

Washington Northeast

Essex Town

Chittenden East

 

Windsor Southeast currently employs an interim superintendent and will soon make a decision about the provision of FY 2011 administrative services.

 

Headmaster Search

The Thetford Academy headmaster search was terminated when the district decided to promote and to continue in a team configuration with the former school head and other administrators.