Lamoille North Modified Unified Union School District

The board conducted a reconstitution process, electing a new chair, clerk, and representative to the LNSU board. Key discussions included a debriefing on the recent town meeting and budget vote, potential changes to voting procedures, and future meeting structures. The board engaged in an executive session regarding roles and responsibilities. Additionally, members addressed updates on the Act 73 mapping process, discussed staff compensation and principal recruitment efforts, acknowledged the transfer of school building ownership, and recognized staff contributions.

The meeting commenced with establishing Roberts Rules (Revised) as the parliamentary procedures. Key agenda items included the election of officers: Mark Nielsen as Moderator, Donna Griffiths as Clerk, and Kim Moulton as Treasurer. Discussions centered on establishing compensation for officers and the Board of Directors for the upcoming fiscal year, including an amendment regarding additional pay for the clerk based on post-town meeting votes. Reports were heard regarding the district's financial snapshot, detailing student metrics, budget conservatism, and anticipated property tax decreases. The Treasurer's report highlighted a decrease in the total cash balance for FY24. Detailed budget reviews were conducted for the elementary, middle/high schools, and the Green Mountain Technology & Career Center (GMTCC), noting increases in general fund expenses and reliance on prior year surplus. The GMTCC budget discussion highlighted personnel costs and tuition rates. Finally, several articles regarding reserve funds for capital needs and emerging programming for both the grade schools and GMTCC were presented and passed by voice vote before the meeting recessed for the Australian ballot voting day.

The meeting commenced with procedural adjustments by the moderator, including changes to speaking times due to low attendance. Key discussions centered on the School District Board of School Directors' report, which detailed the development of a vision aligned with community priorities, influencing the FY27 budget that anticipates a decrease in spending and a resulting tax rate decrease, partially offset by increased healthcare premiums. The board also addressed potential legislative changes concerning Act 73 and redistricting impacting supervisory unions. Other topics included the compensation established for School Board Directors and the election of Directors for the Cambridge Elementary School and the Lamoille North Modified Unified Union School District. A significant portion of the meeting involved deliberation on moving to Australian ballot voting for both director elections and public questions to potentially increase voter engagement, despite concerns about losing the opportunity for real-time amendments during floor discussions. Furthermore, the voters approved renaming the 'Student Pandemic Recovery' reserve to 'Unfunded Student Programming' and authorized allocating $92,645 of the audited fund balance surplus into this newly named reserve. The proposed budget for the year ending June 30, 2027, totaling $6,708,903, which projected a 2.9% decrease in spending per pupil compared to the current year, was noted for a future Australian ballot vote. Finally, the board affirmed future recognition for the retiring principal and provided an update on the search for her successor.

The meeting began with the establishment of parliamentary procedures, opting for Roberts Rules (Revised). Key agenda items included the election of officers: Moderator (Mark Nielsen), Clerk (Donna Griffiths), and Treasurer (Kim Moulton). The body established compensation for these officers and the Board of Directors, approving proposed amounts. Significant discussion and action focused on the estimated expenses for the ensuing year for the Elementary Schools (FY27 budget with a 6.9% general fund increase), Middle & High Schools (FY27 budget with a 4.13% overall increase), and the Green Mountain Technology & Career Center (FY27 budget with a 4% tuition increase). The reports detailed that personnel and health benefit costs were primary drivers of budget increases, and staffing reductions had occurred. Furthermore, the voters approved renaming and changing the purpose of the HRA Special Reserve funds for both the elementary district (#058A) and the middle/high school district (#058B) to the Benefits Reserve to meet general Health Benefits needs. The meeting was recessed to March 3, 2026, for voting on the budget articles (XII, XIII, and XIV), which subsequently passed.

The meeting began with a motion to adopt the agenda, including a modification to allow a candidate from Johnson to join the board. Following the approval of the agenda and closure of public comment, the board proceeded with the election of a new board chair and board clerk. Key discussion points included approving the board meeting schedule, setting dates for the annual and information meetings for 2027, and reviewing committee assignments, with instructions for members to email Michelle Almond regarding changes. The routine business included the approval of the minutes from the February 16th special board meeting and the approval of board orders. Legislative updates covered the passing of 82% of budgets with an average increase below projections, and discussions surrounding a proposed spending cap revision. Further updates included a review of the state report card data, which revealed potential errors in state calculations, contrasting with local student growth data. The board then discussed and approved the appointment of Liz Kaufman as the third member of the Johnson board. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation on the Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CLNA) under Perkins 5, highlighting program strengths such as high graduation rates (98% vs. state 96.4%) and proficiency scores above the state average in various ACT Work Keys metrics. Areas identified for improvement included equipment modernization and tracking work-based learning experiences. The discussion also covered equity and access, noting strong student success rates across diverse populations, and strategies to encourage young women in traditionally male-dominated fields like automotive and construction.