Creating Good Governance for Our Local Schools

Brattleboro Union High School, Brattleboro Area Middle School, Dummerston School, Guilford Central School, Putney Central School, the Brattleboro elementary schools Oak Grove, Green Street, and Academy, and the Windham Regional Career Center are currently governed by a body of eight school board members (School Directors). As of November, 2019, two additional seats were added for School Directors residing in the town of Brattleboro, effective March 3, 2020.

The first turnover of seats on this new board will take place Town Meeting Day – March 3rd, 2020.  Voters from Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford and Putney will elect six School Directors: two who live in Dummerston, one who lives in Putney, and three who live in Brattleboro. All School Directors in the WSESD represent all four towns.

In order for our nine schools to thrive we need to identify people that will serve in this important role.

School Directors are participating in the creation of a new school district.  Accomplishments since merger include: Expanding Restorative Justice work by adding a coordinator position; Expanding efforts to support all students by funding diversity programming; Committing to expand efforts to address the Climate Crisis, and; Creating school-based Leadership Councils to include teachers and community members in developing a community vision for our schools.

Job Title:  School Director for Windham Southeast School District.

How to Run:  Contact your Town Clerk for a petition. Gather signatures and submit your petition, with the correct number of signatures, to your Town Clerk’s office by the end of business on Monday, January 27th, 2020. Election Day is Tuesday, March 3rd.

Board Member Responsibilities Include:

-Engage with and represent the communities of the District.

-Review of school finances, procurements, and budgets.

-Review and update School District Policies/Bylaws.

-Ensure School District’s commitment to maintaining an equitable and inclusive environment for all students, including special education students, students of color, LGBTQ students, and low-income families and children.

– Align programmatic equity throughout the district.

– Monitor student performance and ensure the schools and administration are meeting a high standard.

Time Commitment:  Two board meetings a month, lasting from two to four hours, plus at least two committee meetings and one leadership council meeting a month, as well as time spent researching and communicating. Depending on your level of commitment and the nature of issues before the board, these other commitments may take as little as two hours or as many as twenty hours a week.

Compensation: Board Chair, $6,000 per year, Other Members, $4,000 per year.

Please contact any current board member with questions about serving on your school board.