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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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Understanding the Board’s Role in Student Achievement

February 13, 2025
Noon - 1:00pm

In recognition of National School Board Appreciation Month and the approximately 900 school board members in Vermont working tirelessly to serve as the trustees of the state’s public education system, let’s consider the questions: Does school boards’ work affect student achievement and if so, how? Do school boards even matter?

 

The short answer is: Yes, they do. Research studies suggest school boards can have an effect on student outcomes. It is clear that school boards in high-achieving districts exhibit habits and characteristics that are markedly different from boards in low-achieving districts.So, what do effective school boards in high-achieving districts do that positively impacts student achievement? Come listen and learn from two experts in the field who have done extensive research on this topic and why what we do as school board members really does make a difference. 

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DQS ALIGNMENT

Standard 113.1.3 At least annually, the Board monitors student academic progress and wellness.

 

Standard 113.2.1 The Board annually assesses its performance, including adherence to agreed protocols, processes, and policies.

 

Standard 113.2.2 The Board annually reviews whether and/or how its actions and contributions have impacted the school system’s success in meeting goals.

REGISTER HERE

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Legislative Lunchtime Webinar

March 6, 2025
Noon - 1:00pm

Join us during the legislature’s break for a lunchtime discussion and update on the 2025 legislative session as it relates to public education in VT. Legislators will speak to the work in their respective committees and share a preview of what’s to come in the remainder of the term. They will be joined by VSBA and VSA staff members representing their respective organizations’ members when engaging with the General Assembly on issues affecting education. VSBA has more than 60 resolutions covering a range of issues having to do with: governance, finance, instruction, labor relations, and miscellaneous. Come hear how these positions are being used to help inform the decision-making by the General Assembly.

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DQS ALIGNMENT

Standard 113.3.4 The Board ensures its members understand and comply with Vermont statutes and regulations relevant to board work and public education.

 

Standard 113.3.5 The Board stays apprised of proposed legislation and policy-making that may affect its school system and students.


Standard 113.3.6. The Board maintains an ongoing relationship with locally elected officials.

REGISTER HERE

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Sharpening the Saw: Continuous Learning for Boards

April 10, 2025
Noon - 1:00pm

One of the eight characteristics of an effective school board is team development and training, sometimes with the superintendent, to build shared knowledge, values and commitments for their improvement efforts. DQS standard 113.2.4 requires a board to undertake its own continuous learning and development and provides members with opportunities for ongoing training and support to maintain and increase their skills and understanding. But what if your board has limited resources in terms of time and money for board development? 

 

This webinar will cover the spectrum of board development strategies from low cost to higher cost and both short- and long-term ways a board can increase its understanding of and skills in school board governance. Hear from a panel of current school board members about ways they are doing this important work. From orienting new board members to continued education for veteran board members, the learning should never stop.

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DQS ALIGNMENT

Standard 113.2.4 The Board undertakes its own continuous learning and development and provides members with opportunities for ongoing training and support to maintain and increase their skills and understanding

REGISTER HERE

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According to Robert: Using Correct Meeting Procedures

May 20, 2025
Noon - 1:00pm

Join us for an engaging webinar designed to provide members with a solid foundation in Robert's Rules of Order, the required  guide for effective and orderly meeting management. This session will cover the essentials, including key principles, common motions, voting procedures, and strategies for facilitating productive discussions. Whether you’re new to serving on a board or looking to sharpen your procedural skills, this webinar will provide practical insights and tips to help you confidently navigate meetings, ensure fairness, and foster collaboration among members. 

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DQS ALIGNMENT

Standard 113.2.4 The Board undertakes its own continuous learning and development and provides members with opportunities for ongoing training and support to maintain and increase their skills and understanding. 


Standard 113.3.4 The Board ensures its members understand and comply with Vermont statutes and regulations relevant to board work and public education.

REGISTER HERE

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It’s a Wrap! The 2025 Legislative Session & Implications for Vermont School Districts

June 10, 2025
Noon - 1:00pm

An overview will be given of major outcomes from the 2025 legislative session impacting public education in Vermont. Particular focus will be on any changes made to the education funding system. Come hear about new legislation, how it will potentially impact your school district, and what the board needs to do to comply with Vermont statute. 

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DQS ALIGNMENT

Standard 113.3.4 The Board ensures its members understand and comply with Vermont statutes and regulations relevant to board work and public education.

REGISTER HERE

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Driving Excellence: Goal Setting, Planning & Self-Assessing

August 12, 2025
Noon - 1:00pm

On an annual basis a school board sets goals, creates its work plan, and self-assesses its own performance. These actions, when done intentionally and regularly, help to ensure the board fulfills its responsibility to students and taxpayers. 

 

This webinar will be a “how to” session, drawing on the expertise of boards, which have created systems and structures to help them with one or more of these governance roles. This is a perfect webinar for boards that are not yet performing one or more of these roles, or that would like to consider ways to improve their own systems in goal setting, work planning and self-assessment. Join us!

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DQS ALIGNMENT

113.1 Governance Priorities: Through an equity lens, the Board of each SU/SD and, if applicable, of each member school district within the SU, adopts a vision and measurable goals to support continuous improvement and monitors student academic progress and wellness.

 

Standard 113.1.2 At least annually, the Board sets measurable goals and regularly reviews the progress toward those goals.

 

Standard 113.2.1 The Board annually assesses its performance, including adherence to agreed protocols, processes, and policies.

 

Standard 113.2.3 The Board annually evaluates the effectiveness of community engagement and public communication efforts.

REGISTER HERE

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Shaping the Advocacy Agenda: Understanding the 2025-2026 VSBA Resolutions

September 11, 2025
Noon - 1:00pm

Resolutions are policy statements that form the foundation for the VSBA’s advocacy work throughout the year. Each spring, member boards are invited to submit resolutions on issues they consider important to Vermont’s public education. These resolutions are considered by the VSBA’s Resolutions Committee that then makes a recommendation to the VSBA board to pass, not to pass, or take no position for each draft resolution. Regardless of how the VSBA votes, all draft resolutions are voted on by delegates of the full VSBA membership at the Annual Business Meeting in October.  If you are a voting delegate, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with the proposed resolutions. This webinar is an easy way to do that. We invite you to join us to learn more about the proposed resolutions for 2025-2026.

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REGISTER HERE

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Crafting Policies to Realize the Vision

November 13, 2025
Noon - 1:00pm

The very first duty and authority specifically assigned to Vermont school boards in statute is “Shall determine the educational policies of the school district.” (16 V.S.A. § 563). Therefore, the development, monitoring and maintenance of school district and supervisory union policies is an essential role of school boards. Policy is a primary lever for achieving district goals and it helps to guide the operations. 

 

To ensure equitable outcomes for all students, educational equity should be at the center of a board’s policy work. To this end, the VSBA has created an equity lens tool to help boards when creating and reviewing policies.  

 

Come hear about this tool and learn more about the process to develop, adopt, disseminate, implement and review policies. Questions we will consider are: What is a policy committee and how to stand one up? How frequently should we review policies? How do the policies at the SU level relate to the district level ones–are they one and the same? How does policy differ from procedure? 

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DQS ALIGNMENT

Standard 113.3.1 The Board discusses, adopts, and revises policies on a regular basis to ensure the system is supporting and meeting the needs of every student.

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REGISTER HERE

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Get on Board! Candidate Training

December 10, 2025
6:00 - 7:00pm

The VSBA’s annual “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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