WSESD / Senate Listening Session on Proposed Vermont Education Reform

The Board of the Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) invites you to an upcoming WSESD Board meeting that will include a listening session with our local senators. The purpose of the listening session will be to provide an opportunity for comments and concerns regarding changes to the education system and school district redistricting. This listening session will take place during a WSESD Board meeting:


WSESU Board Meeting Minutes Dec 3, 2025

The main components of the $2 million dollar increase in Special Education funding includes:

● An increase in intensive services at the elementary level including medically fragile students and the need for specialized equipment and technologies.

● An increase of $700,000 in benefits with the majority in health insurance as well as about $500,000 in contractual salary increases. It was noted that it is a new occurrence that an increase in benefits is now larger than salary. The balance of the increase is from the additional need for contracted services for evaluations and specialists such as speech language pathologist and psychologist services.


WSESD Finance Committee Meeting Minutes Dec 1, 2025

Ruby McAdoo noted that the next step in the budget development process will be at the full WSESD Board meeting 12/16/25. Working with the Board Chair, the budget review will be earlier on the agenda to encourage public involvement. The Communications Committee will be spreading the word about this meeting.


WSESD Finance Committee Meeting Minutes Nov 24, 2025

Frank Rucker reviewed the proposed budget summary (linked above). The percent change is currently at a 2% change. When developing a budget, meeting student needs as well as inflation rates are heavily considered in order to put forth a fiscally responsible budget.

Nancy Wiese shared information about the budget development for WRCC. She spoke to the challenge specific to WRCC; if a position is reduced, then a program is eliminated. Using carefully designed solutions, this year she is able to present a zero increase budget. This will not be sustainable in the future, but is the case this year. Currently the culinary program is being rebuilt and will be offered again next year.


WSESU Board Meeting Minutes Nov 19, 2025

● WSESU’s poverty level has been decreasing over the past three years relative to the national rate. As a result, Title I funding for FY27 is projected to drop to about 80% of current levels.
● The Vermont AOE has also indicated that there is no reliable information yet about the status of any Title grants for FY27.


Windham Southeast Supervisory Union School Board Meeting Minutes Nov 12, 2025

Superintendent Speno kicked off the start of the board’s budget season. He and the team have been meeting with individual principals and next week will work with the teams at BUHS and the WRCC. Draft budgets are expected to be ready to share by the end of the week.

Business Administrator Frank Rucker shared the calendar of the budget process as well as the Guiding Principles and Background Data for FY27 Budget Planning document. The WSESU is scheduled to meet next Wednesday for our first dedicated budget meeting.


WSESD Meeting Agenda Nov 12, 2025

The Windham Southeast Supervisory Union Board will meet at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at the Windham Regional Career Center, Cusick Conference Room, 80 Atwood St, Brattleboro VT, and remotely via Zoom.


WSESD Board Meeting Minutes Nov 4, 2025

Summary
● The Board approved a new Universal PreK partner, The Pumpkin Patch.
● The Board committed to a $2,000 donation from their professional development line to support the continued advocacy work of the RSCA.
● The Member Slate for this year’s LCs was approved as is.
● Policy E19, Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams, was adopted, and policies D12, Prevention of Harassment of Employees Policy, F37 District Equity Policy, and G13, Responsible Computer, Network & Internet Use Policy, were re-adopted.


Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Policy and Amendment Committee Meeting Minutes Oct 22, 2025

Summary: The committee reviewed three policies during the meeting (Gender Freedom in Schools, D15 Travel Reimbursement, and C7 Board Relations with Administrators). Gender Freedom and D15 will be sent for a first reading at the next full Board meeting on November 4. C7 remains on hold. Rebecca Olmstead was not able to attend the meeting, so Asthma Friendly Schools and E11 Federal Child Nutrition Act Wellness Policy were not reviewed; these policies will be put on the agenda for November 12.


WSESU, WSESD, VTSD Boards Summit Meeting Agenda October 28, 2025

The Windham Southeast Supervisory Union, Windham Southeast School District, and Vernon Town School District  Boards will meet at 5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 28, 2025 at the Cusick Conference Room, 80 Atwood Street, Brattleboro, and remotely via Zoom.  The boards will convene at 5pm for dinner, during which time no business will be conducted. The agenda begins at 6pm, at which time the Zoom link will open to the public.