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Author: Bea Eliastam

School Board Update (9/19/24)

Hello everybody,

We have a regular meeting at 4pm today, please see the agenda here.

There will be a few changes I plan to introduce in the Changes to Agenda. The Superintendent Report is missing from the agenda, previously SU were going to be out but this is no longer the case. The other is our Clerk Rory has chosen to leave the board effective immediately for personal reasons. 

Rory has been with us through a lot of challenging times in the last year(s) and is a wonderful person who always brought a lot of optimism / clear sensibility to our board. Losing Rory and filling her board seat will be hard for Abby and I; she will be missed deeply, both as a representative at our meetings and as someone to lean on through the issues of the day. We will go through what are the next steps to filling the vacancy at the meeting. Please let us know at the meeting or in email if any of you have interest in stepping up for our community and joining the board. 

In happier news, we have Yoga coming to the Schoolhouse starting today right after our meeting!

Fluid Vinyasa Flow with Brittany Frost

Thursdays from 6 pm – 7 pm 

Initially from Sept. 19th to Oct. 24th, based on attendance the dates and more time slots (days) may extend into November (no Oct. 31st – Halloween!).  

Donation: $5 – $25 sliding scale – note: no one will be turned away for lack of donation!

Email Brittany at theebeeskneespottery@gmail.com for any other details. 

Additionally, the Workers Union will be hosting their first event on Sunday, Sept. 29th from 2 pm to 3 pm. Look out for more info as we get closer and feel free to email Gary at gcanvil@gmail.com or Kia at kiacating@gmail.com for more details.

The Windham Energy Committee is still on track for their window insert production in the first week of November, Nov. 1st through 6th. Email Bill Dunkel at Bdunkel1455@gmail.com if you have any questions and/or would like to volunteer. 

These programs join our little collective of private childcare (pending licensure for official daycare status) and the Historical Society. 

We have other programming we will be laying out as we get further along such as Music Classes, Outdoor Afterschool program, events, and much more. 

Related, I recently joined the Select Board on Monday. This is one of many meetings that we will be doing to get the town’s feedback (public and board) on the schoolhouse. 

Some of the takeaways include: 

  • Community Trust opportunities
  • Sharing of space with the town office/other municipalities – need a proposal from the Clerk or any others for this. 
  • Emergency Shelter – needs to be properly vetted with the Fire Marshall and planned. 
  • Recommitment of $0 of facility operating expenses for the next budget FY26 and going forward. 

I also announced that Friends of Windham Schoolhouse, the local non-profit organization, has offered to assist and manage the influx of programming coming to the schoolhouse. Many of whom have programming that they’d like to provide to the community in the coming months. We will provide more as we iron out the details and structure. 

That’s it for now! It’s a beautiful early Autumn day, hopefully we will see you at our meeting and feel free to respond to this for any questions / comments. 

Regards,
Dan Roth
Vice Chair of Windham School Board

Property Tax Concerns?

The Town of Windham, like many other towns in Vermont, is experiencing property tax increases that are causing concern among citizens. A significant portion of these increases are attributed to education spending. We encourage all residents to engage with state senators, representatives and the commission currently studying this issue, so your perspectives and concerns can be effectively addressed. Please find relevant contacts below:

Representative Heather Chase

Email:  hchase@leg.state.vt.us

Phone:  (802) 828-2228

Mailing Address:  115 State St., Montpelier, VT 05633

Senator Wendy Harrison

Email:  wharrison@leg.state.vt.us

Phone:  (802) 828-2228

Mailing Address115 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05633

Senator Nader Hashim

Email:  nhashim@leg.state.vt.us

Phone:  (802) 828-2228

Address:  115 State St, Montpelier, VT 05633

Hyperlink:  Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont | Agency of Education

Please send public comment to Chair Meagan Roy: Meagan.Roy@partner.vermont.gov or  AOE.FutureofPublicEdVTPublicComment@vermont.gov