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Most webinars satisfy one hour of the 8-hour annual board chair/superintendent joint training requirements as stated in 16 V.S.A. § 561(b) provided both parties attend together.​ 

 

16 VSA Section 561 requires that

 

(b) At least annually, the chairs of each school board within a supervisory union, the chair of the supervisory union board, and the superintendent shall jointly participate in at least eight hours of professional training that, at a minimum, addresses:

  1. educational leadership;

  2. the relative roles and responsibilities of the supervisory union board, the school district boards, and the superintendent;

  3. the Vermont Open Meeting Law, 1 V.S.A. §§ 310-314;

  4. Vermont law regarding access to public records, 1 V.S.A. §§ 315-320;

  5. collective bargaining; and

  6. education funding and school finance laws. (Added 1969, No. 298 (Adj. Sess.), § 38; amended 2007, No. 66, § 4; 2013, No. 56, § 13, eff. May 30, 2013; 2013, No. 92 (Adj. Sess.), § 67, eff. Feb. 14, 2014.)

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Everyone registering to attend any webinar will receive an email following the webinar with a link to the video, handouts and any follow-up materials.
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Unlocking Success:
The New VSBA Negotiation Tool Kit for Effective Collective Bargaining
Noon - 1:00

October 8, 2024

Have you seen the newly released VSBA Negotiation Tool Kit? It is found on our website and has many pieces of information to help with all of your staff negotiations.

 

Staff salaries and benefits are a significant portion of the district budget and as such, negotiating contracts with employee representatives is an important responsibility for board members, who need to ensure the negotiated agreements are aligned with the district's vision for education, student needs, and community expectations. The VSBA Negotiation Tool Kit includes salary data and suggestions on ways to compare the data, as well as collect other relevant information.

 

The VSBA offers support and services to assist boards in fulfilling their collective bargaining role. Come hear what these are and learn from other board members about how they handle collective bargaining on their boards as we walk through the NEW Negotiation Tool Kit.

REGISTER HERE

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Partnering to Prepare for the Roll Out of Educational Quality Standards (EQS)
Noon - 1:00

November 14, 2024

Vermont’s Education Quality Standards (EQS) are a government rule which, among other things, provides direction to school districts as they develop curricula, choose learning materials, and design instructional and student well-being practices. Since 2013, the EQS Manual has mandated specific state-adopted content standards. This summer, updates to EQS were approved and the revised EQS will take effect on July 1, 2025.

 

The changes made to EQS aim to increase educational, social and emotional support for all Vermont students. Their implications are far reaching and require actionable items for school boards, superintendents, educators and school leadership. This webinar will cover the purpose of the EQS Manual and the delineation of roles and responsibilities between the superintendent and the board in the implementation of the revised standards. Come learn how you can support your district leaders’ implementation of EQS through the six essential roles of Vermont school boards: community engagement, policy, financial oversight and budgeting, policy, and monitoring and reporting on progress.

REGISTER HERE

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Get on Board! 
6:00 - 7:30pm

December 10, 2024

The VSBA’s “Get On Board!” campaign aims to recruit civic-minded individuals who are passionate about improving public education for all students in Vermont. If you or someone you know is interested in serving the community, school board service just might be the right opportunity for you.

 

More than a volunteer role, serving on your local school board is a chance to make a lasting impact on Vermont’s education system. It provides a platform to advocate for public education and actively contribute to the improvement of local schools.

 

We invite you to attend our annual online event, “Get on Board! Pre-Candidate Training”. During this event, we will give a general overview of the school board’s essential work and  guide you through the process of filing and running for a seat. We will explain the next steps and provide an opportunity for you to have your questions answered. Join us!

REGISTER HERE

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Effective Evaluations = Successful Superintendents
Noon - 1:00pm

January 9, 2025

The evaluation of the superintendent is vital to an effective school organization. The school board is responsible for defining organizational outcomes that are clearly and explicitly stated in order to (1) ensure the superintendent understands what is expected; and (2) ensure the school board understands what to expect of the superintendent. These two points characterize a working relationship with mutual accountability. Vermont statute states that the supervisory district/union board has both the authority and responsibility to evaluate the superintendent, and the district governance standards will require that the board formally evaluates the performance of the superintendent at least annually (eff. 7/1/2025). As the one direct report to the board, the superintendent is entitled to a fair and transparent evaluation based in part on their progress toward meeting agreed-upon goals. This webinar will address the following considerations:

  1. What evaluation instrument will you use?

  2. Who will complete the instrument? 

  3. How will you come to agreement on the rating(s)? 

  4. How will you come to agreement on the narrative? 

  5. Who will compile the final evaluation?

  6. What is your process for review and response?

  7. How will the board evaluate its own work?

  8. When can it help to have a neutral outside evaluator?

REGISTER HERE

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