Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union 5

This document outlines goals for the SVSU and its Superintendent for the 2025-2026 school year. The Superintendent's goals focus on strengthening governance, improving communication, and setting data-driven objectives. The SVSU Board's goals prioritize aligning strategic priorities with the budget, enhancing data utilization for accountability, fostering a strong Board-Superintendent partnership, refining governance processes, and engaging with statewide developments and community input regarding regional governance structures.

This document outlines the strategic direction for continuous improvement goals across the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union. Key focus areas include enhancing academic proficiency in foundational literacy, ELA, and mathematics for all grade levels, and fostering student well-being by reducing risks associated with internalizing and externalizing behaviors. The plan also emphasizes academic personalization for students in grades 7-12, with specific targets and indicators for various elementary and middle/high schools.

The committee discussed the food service program, including participation data, recruitment, and the impact of declining student enrollment on meal counts. A presentation was provided regarding the sources of funding and program grants. Future steps involve developing a contract bid for the upcoming year and ongoing efforts to improve community awareness of service accessibility. The meeting also included updates on the kitchen renovation project at the high school and the planning for summer meal distribution to support food security for students during the summer months.

The board discussed and reviewed the FY27 budget, focusing on tuition projections, student counts, and tax rate calculations. They approved adjustments to remove placeholders from the budget and discussed the impact on projected expenditures and tax increases. Additionally, the board approved a motion to warn the 'Board Member Conflict of Interest' policy (Policy 7205) for future adoption. The meeting also included an update regarding an upcoming legislative breakfast and plans for the superintendent to testify on education reform.

The board discussed and approved the appointment of the new principal for Mount Anthony Union Middle School. The search process, which included 30 applicants, was detailed, highlighting the screening and interview stages involving students and school staff. The board also discussed the transition plan for the new hire, including the use of an external mentor from the Vermont Principal's Association and the standard evaluation process for new administrative hires.