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2023-11-15 HUUSD Board Meeting Recap

2023-11-15 HUUSD Board Meeting Recap Featured Image

The HUUSD School Board met in person (with an option for remote participation) last Wednesday, November 15, 2023.

The meeting began with public comment:

  • Janelle Hoskins (Waterbury Center) and Natalia Raffioli (Waterbury) spoke for the members of the Harwood Youth Lobby to encourage efforts in obtaining grant funding for a pilot electric school bus program, as well as for a desire to see the Harwood Youth Lobby continue operating once a large group of senior members graduates this Spring.

Sports Team Recognition:

  • Bass Fishing Team - Jake recognized the team’s accomplishments and state championship.
  • Boys Varsity Soccer Team - Bobbi recognized the soccer team.

Board Reports:  

  • Students - Ellie and Naomi provided information about fall sports, the fall play, the Laramie Project, student outreach efforts, and their plans and goals for gathering bond planning input from students.
  • Superintendent - Dr. Mike highlighted some items from his written report, such as HUHS bond input sessions, a physical restraint update, and Warren PCB testing.
  • Board Reports - Bobbi reported on a tentative Board member training schedule, noting that a session on collective bargaining is coming up.

Topics for discussion:

  • Budget - Lisa further clarified the impacts of Vermont’s education formula funding logistics; explained that full tax impacts of the budget cannot be predicted until the State releases relevant information; and answered questions regarding the upcoming tax rate cap, per-pupil spending cap, and other factors. She suggested establishing a new reserve fund due to the uncertainty around these and other potential legislative impacts on funding in the coming five years or so. Board members had several questions.
    • Lisa then presented some numbers associated with a level service budget and implications over the next several years, for which she had used several assumptions. The state is releasing information in early December that will help to solidify projections.

In action items, the Board:

  • Approved a motion to authorize the Board Chair and Superintendent to submit a grant application for round 3 of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean School Bus Program.
  • Approved a motion to approve the India 2024 field trip request (in relation to grant from Senator Bernie Sanders) to travel to Himalaya Inter College, partner school in Chaukori, India, from April 6-27, 2024.
  • Approved a motion to warn the following policies for adoption: B3, F26, E23, D12.

Board Members present: Ben Clark (Moretown), Kelley Hackett (Waterbury), Life LeGeros (Duxbury), Jake Pitman (Waterbury), Kristen Rodgers (Moretown), Bobbi Rood (Waitsfield), Cindy Senning (Duxbury), Marlena Tucker-Fishman (Waterbury), JB Weir (Waitsfield), Ashley Woods (Warren), Jonathan Young (Warren)

You are invited to participate in discussions on the future of Harwood Union High School. The School Board is seeking your input on how to proceed. The community will be receiving further information in the coming weeks with summaries of the three main categories. This is a major undertaking that will have an impact on school district programs and finances for years to come, so your input is crucial. Please participate!

Harwood Union High School project public meeting schedule:

  • November 16: 6:00 pm Harwood Union High School auditorium
  • November 28: 6:00 pm Brookside gym
  • December 5: 6:00pm Warren gym
  • December 14: 6:00 pm CBMS cafetorium
  • December 19: 6:00 pm Moretown cafeteria
  • January 11: 6:00 pm Waitsfield gym
  • January 16: 6:00 pm Fayston gym

The Board welcomes feedback from our community and one of the easiest ways to share your thoughts is to send an email to cen-huusdboard@huusd.org, which will go to every Board member. Additionally, at the beginning of each Board meeting we invite public comment.  Alternately, reach out to one of your neighbors who is on the school board and share your thoughts in a personal email or phone call (see a list of Board members and contact information at https://tinyurl.com/523wtrnj).

The Board’s next meeting will be on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 6:00 PM. Community members may attend in person in the Harwood library or remotely via zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/386460007#success), or watch it broadcast live on Youtube (http://tinyurl.com/huwebapp-youtube-live). Agendas and other related documents are available at huusd.org.

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