Education

At a special meeting on January 21st, the WSESD Board appointed Dummerston resident Jessica Everlith to temporarily fill a vacancy on the board. Ms. Everlith will fill this seat until such time as a candidate can be elected to fill the remaining year of the vacancy created by a recent resignation. On the March 4th Town Meeting Day, registered voters of Brattleboro, Dummerston, Guilford and Putney will be able to vote for the candidate of their choice to fill this Dummerston seat on the board. 

The Windham Southeast School District (WSESD) Board has received letters of interest  from three candidates for the vacant seat on the Board. Any individual appointed to the open seat on the WSESD Board must be a resident of Dummerston and will hold the position until March 2025. A new member of the WSESD Board will then be elected on March 4th, to complete the remainder of the term, which is through March 2026.

The three candidates for appointment from Dummerston are:

Jessica Everlith

Gretchen Lanterman

Jody Normandeau

The Windham Southeast School District Independent Budget Review Committee will meet Wednesday, January 22, 2025 at 5:00PM via Zoom only.

Zoom link  

The Windham Southeast School District Board will hold a Special Board Meeting at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 – in person at the WRCC Cusick Conference Room, with zoom capability.

DS noted that at the last meeting, in the review of C3, there was discussion of whether board members should be able to respond to public comment. The minutes stated that this item was going to be placed on the agenda for the January 14 full board meeting. DS has delayed this discussion due to an overly full agenda for January 14. She will put it on the agenda for January 28 or the first meeting in February.

I. Approval of Minutes from 1/8/25

II. Evaluate (2:00 – 3:00)

F8 Student Medication

F16 Head Lice

The WSESD Communications Council will meet from 10am on Thursday, January 16, 2025 The meeting will take place at the Central Office Conference Room and via zoom.

The Windham Southeast School District Board will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at the Academy School, 860 Western Avenue, Brattleboro, and remotely via Zoom.  (Please note location)

The Windham Southeast School District Board will meet at 5:00pm on Monday, January 13, 2025, in-person only, at the WRCC Cusick Conference Room, Brattleboro.

AGENDA

I. Call to Order
II. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items [6:00-6:10]
III. 1 V.S.A. §313(a)(7) the academic records or suspension or discipline of students.

Potential Action Anticipated

II. Evaluate (2:00 – 3:00)

F8 Student Medication
F16 Head Lice

Invited Attendee: Rebecca Olmstead, Nurse Leader

– H6 Annual School Reports

– Gender Freedom in Schools – Proposed new policy

Summary
● Significant discussion regarding budget development
● Two policies submitted for first reading

Summary
● Following a discussion about holding or cancelling the Board Retreat, it was determined to proceed with the Board Retreat on 1/13/24 and have a potluck meal to assist with the containment of expenses.
● Approved EES (Early Education Services) to move forward with the preparation and subsequent submission of their application for funding in the amount of $3,483,623.00 (due 1/6/25).
● To settle on a potential ‘shared read’ for the Board to engage in, a group of three to four Board Members have committed to review suggestions in order to select one to bring to the Board.
● A presentation was given by Dr. Rachel Glickman about Community Schools.

V. Fiscal Report

Presentation of 1st Comprehensive Draft Budget