[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6330407,"mediaKeyId","2314239-93d112a311013d4bba0faa14736e624c","parentId",2314239,"title","Votes at a glance: agenda adoption, consent items, policy committee charge, superintendent screening and personnel leave authorized","audioSeconds",4129,"startMs",407000,"endMs",4536000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314239-93d112a311013d4bba0faa14736e624c&start=407&end=4536","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314239-93d112a311013d4bba0faa14736e624c/thumbnail_407000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6330407/Vermont/Votes-at-a-glance-agenda-adoption-consent-items-policy-committee-charge-superintendent-screening-and-personnel-leave-authorized","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330407-c262c3cead20eb2b49e873041c1a9f8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775897768&Signature=IBo27FVNhYAiO0yMbVEGFf~lWTPdcpt7xVhOql2NLHryDiqCdURv~gl81~yOefczXiCxi6oN8ZaBjeMBqiWqubYctG5eBV73zczX7ZgKq0AHWO2TPpOgG0eg1lGaarV92zfmdnc7GuD7h2749h8MS6Vxr7QdglvS6RN53arDUzjhzRN29kvD4yzIyxTdelbNI8Hum80joYMR4R~N6lg8j8tdn~NHdSbsONEzkKIjkDzaMS3FW559fTCntb8x-eEo161emrk35MXi74OcBlej9Rim3wFVCMC~B25lRq-TJNwEd27CD5DEV6u0SQiy-Psm7cf9stN3acRUsGGZq4CTvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Barre Unified Union School District, VT","date","2025-02-13T19:00:11Z","article","At the meeting the Barre Unified Union School District Board of School Directors recorded several formal actions. This summary lists each motion, the stated mover/second when given, and the recorded outcome.

1) Adopt agenda
Motion: Adopt the submitted agenda (with removal of agenda item 8.4 and addition of superintendent evaluation as 12.2; take agenda item 3 out of order after approval).
Mover/Second: Motion moved by Sonia Spalding; seconded by Garrett Grant.
Outcome: Motion passed (voice vote). No dissent recorded.

2) Approve consent agenda (minutes)
Motion: Approve consent agenda and meeting minutes dated 01/22/2025, 01/23/2025, 01/30/2025 and 02/05/2025.
Mover/Second: Motion by Nancy LeClaire; seconded by Alice Farrell.
Outcome: Motion approved by voice/roll call; recorded ayes from Sonia Spalding, Garrett Grant, Nancy LeClaire, Alice Farrell, Emily Wheeler Reynolds and Catherine Whelan. Michael Bouton noted passage.

3) Approve off-campus event (Empty Bowls)
Motion: Approve and support the off-campus Empty Bowls community dinner event and have it covered by the multiline insurance.
Mover/Second: Motion recorded in the meeting as moved by Derek and seconded by Nancy LeClaire (as stated on the record).
Outcome: Approved by roll-call vote: Sonia Spalding — Aye; Garrett Grant — Aye; Michael Bouton — Aye; Nancy LeClaire — Aye; Alice Farrell — Aye; Emily Wheeler Reynolds — Aye; Catherine Whelan — Aye.

4) Charge policy committee to draft policy-review procedures
Motion: Charge the policy committee to draft a policy development and review policy with procedures and bring it to the full board for a first reading.
Mover/Second: Motion by Emily Wheeler Reynolds; seconded by Sonia Spalding.
Outcome: Motion passed by board vote (recorded ayes: Sonia Spalding, Garrett Grant, Michael Bouton, Nancy LeClaire, Alice Farrell, Emily Wheeler Reynolds, Catherine Whelan).

5) Authorize superintendent candidate screening committee charge
Motion: Approve the superintendent candidate screening committee charge as presented (committee membership roles and process; committee to recommend up to three finalist candidates to the full board).
Mover/Second: Motion by Sonia Spalding; seconded by Nancy LeClaire.
Outcome: Motion passed by vote (recorded ayes: Sonia Spalding, Garrett Grant, Michael Bouton, Nancy LeClaire, Alice Farrell, Emily Wheeler Reynolds, Catherine Whelan).

6) Personnel action authorized (executive session)
Motion: Authorize the superintendent to institute a two-day leave without pay for one staff member based on confidential personnel matters discussed in executive session.
Mover/Second: Motion by Nancy LeClaire; seconded by Alice Farrell.
Outcome: Motion approved by roll-call (ayes recorded from Sonia Spalding, Garrett Grant, Michael Bouton, Nancy LeClaire, Alice Farrell, Emily Wheeler Reynolds, Catherine Whelan).

Ending: The board conducted an executive session and returned to open session to record the personnel authorization; the screening committee charge and policy committee charge will be implemented as directed.

Note on procedure: Where roll-call votes were recorded on the transcript, names and votes above follow the board's recorded roll-call. Where voice votes were used (agenda adoption, some consent approvals), the minutes reflect the board chair noting passage and absence of dissent.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BUUSD Board Meeting - February 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Barre Unified Union School District board recorded multiple governance votes during its meeting, including agenda adoption, approval of minutes, authorization of a school fundraiser, a charge to the policy committee, creation of a superintendent screening charge, and a personnel leave authorization following executive session.","taxTitle","Barre Unified Union School District #97, School Districts, Vermont","taxId",67875,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":46,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6330412,"Youth First Mentoring expands into Barre City; board approves off-campus 'Empty Bowls' fundraiser",2281,2255000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314239-93d112a311013d4bba0faa14736e624c&start=2255&end=4536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314239-93d112a311013d4bba0faa14736e624c/thumbnail_2255000.jpg","/articles/6330412/Vermont/Youth-First-Mentoring-expands-into-Barre-City-board-approves-off-campus-Empty-Bowls-fundraiser","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330412-b050dd78836bb5cf92236820f67ad668/orig.mp4?Expires=1775897768&Signature=JG7po-T9ylyCtI5b71998tuzjDovob5Y1snB49V~aT2jaQWDBZmyALRCUEHl1pHSlraXrlcGefMjEitZpHzN32W1eR9f8FPsL9HYeT6jtAQII19DJJNe6rUs4-bOfuBpIVhRYMIkHo~m-NVoke1vMoRARpENoXRQnN5FkIODikVcAuyyf8lsp3gOlnWP8AgHiNKFIErw4It1YvfX~RgbCd~KHMtiDdr-hiXl1s5V6Bge9-ADLPN6mnqjdHu~Og3mwVZtykW~97K7S51PG4LznK0XGN2jtdxKxpcEyQCg~WxkKTkGEXI2dZVHPY5FVSsgO467uGU0Gfn0GN9YYsGC9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sally Russell, program director of Youth First Mentoring, presented the nonprofit's model and recent expansion into Barre City. Youth First is a community-based mentoring program serving youth ages 8–18 in several local towns; Russell said the organization established services in Barre City after winning two startup grants (one from a lead-prevention organization supported by United Way and one from Mentor Vermont). Russell said the program's current annual budget is just under $85,000 and that about half the budget varies year to year based on grant funding; she asked local leaders and the school district to consider ways to support local sustainability including a targeted fundraising goal of about $25,000 and potential ongoing town funding.

Russell said Youth First recruits, screens and trains community volunteers, conducts home visits and background checks, and provides discretionary \"opportunity gap\" funds to help mentees access enrichment experiences; she said the Vermont Children's Trust grant provides roughly $510 per child for enrichment activities such as overnight camp, lessons, or test fees. \"When mentoring starts early, especially, the benefits of mentoring are even greater,\" Russell said, describing the program's long-term results and social-return estimates cited in mentoring studies.

Board members and community speakers asked about program eligibility, school partnerships and whether high-school students could serve as mentors; Russell said the program is community-based rather than site-based, serves children whose families request the program, and that the model typically excludes students whose needs require licensed clinical services. Several community members, including a middle-school teacher and a parent, reported existing mentoring activities in the district and encouraged collaboration.

Separately on the same agenda, the board considered and approved an off-campus school event: Berry City Middle/Elementary's \"Empty Bowls\" community dinner organized by art teacher Irene Navadonis and students. The motion before the board authorized the event and coverage under the district multiline insurance policy. The board voted by roll call: Sonya (Sonia) Spalding, Garrett Grant, Nancy LeClaire, Alice Farrell, Emily Wheeler Reynolds, Catherine Whelan and Michael Bouton all voted Aye and the motion passed.

Ending: Youth First said it will provide contact information and brochures to the schools and asked the district to consider local liaisons and fundraising support; the Empty Bowls event was approved and community members said they would assist with publicity and sponsorship outreach.","Sally Russell of Youth First presented an overview of the community-based mentoring group's work and funding needs as it expands into Barre City. The board separately approved an off-campus Empty Bowls fundraiser proposed by Berry City Middle/Elementary staff; the motion passed by roll-call vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6330416,"Spaulding High to launch Freshman Academy and numeric proficiency scale to support transition and graduation pathways",485,4575000,5060000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314239-93d112a311013d4bba0faa14736e624c&start=4575&end=5060","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314239-93d112a311013d4bba0faa14736e624c/thumbnail_4575000.jpg","/articles/6330416/Vermont/Spaulding-High-to-launch-Freshman-Academy-and-numeric-proficiency-scale-to-support-transition-and-graduation-pathways","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330416-ef9a134aa443f67787c2e299a988bc95/orig.mp4?Expires=1775897768&Signature=LqsAoENnVbdIqPW5upHrY5kgilebzCtN4EDH2fhapCEUf3iSdhVm5P3KMJcFBcxl1jyzCU5RHEm4JmTaWWa9KnIJ2kICPbgw~d-5~kAxnEbxbKKW-M~53sbP0rGEN3FlgIfntNRSzKEmf9jYz-xQCxRgkqDkHwEO18AaZjvIzvuZ7Pesu6Vs~6jNZ624w1eJu5Yq2XjV1XVqljH4UrhqUsJNgcp9kc0k9Uxv4BUuIGaBSltZ4qqeWhhnkZQH-2W4oNfSGearPxqmqZvwFgL4P1N2VxWN-aZNqCFNJ74IgRf3X5WP~Q6j2cQC-TQUFUgD~oTwuVome2BHI88GdcSfcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Denise Maurice, principal of Spaulding High School, outlined plans to launch a Freshman Academy aimed at improving the transition from middle school to high school and supporting students' long-term success. Maurice said the academy will form the foundation of the school’s tier 1 supports within a broader multi-tiered systems-of-support (MTSS) framework.

Maurice said the high school plans to strengthen its proficiency-based grading system by moving from word-based reporting to a numeric scale that uses 0.5 increments (for example, 3.5 or 2.5 on standards-based scales). \"Teachers are beginning to draft those skills this spring, and next year we'll be recalibrating to Vermont and national standards,\" Maurice said, adding that students will continue to have opportunities to rework material to raise proficiency levels.

Under the Freshman Academy model, Maurice said teachers will collaborate in teams to build consistent academic and behavioral expectations for ninth graders, advisories will emphasize study habits and executive functioning, and the school's \"crimson block\" (an end-of-day period) will be repurposed to provide targeted instruction, interventions and time to support individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan services.

Maurice also announced a funding opportunity: the Ron York Scholarship Trust has been made available to support an engineering-focused program at Spaulding. The administration said the trust will be used to develop engineering pathways and strengthen partnerships with local postsecondary and technical programs, such as Vermont Flight Academy and the labs at the Randolph-based technical college.

Maurice described the Freshman Academy as designed to reduce the risk of ninth-grade failure and improve graduation rates by giving incoming students a smaller cohort of teachers, structured advisories and clearer communication with families. Board members and staff asked clarifying questions about advisory composition, continuity of advisers across grade levels, and alignment of MTSS plans across K–12; Maurice and other staff said those details remain under development and noted a Roland fellowship awarded to a staff member that will support advisory and student-voice work.

Ending: Maurice said work on scheduling and program details is ongoing and that teachers and staff will continue to refine the model over the spring; the board received the presentation for information and expressed support for the direction.","Spaulding High School principal Denise Maurice outlined a Freshman Academy and related changes — including a numeric proficiency-based grading scale, expanded advisory and 'crimson block' support time, and use of a Ron York scholarship to develop engineering pathways — aimed at improving ninth-grade success and long-term outcomes.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6330421,"Barre Unified Union School District presents FY26 budget: $2.6 million increase, mixed local tax impacts",274,1008000,1282000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2314239-93d112a311013d4bba0faa14736e624c&start=1008&end=1282","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2314239-93d112a311013d4bba0faa14736e624c/thumbnail_1008000.jpg","/articles/6330421/Vermont/Barre-Unified-Union-School-District-presents-FY26-budget-26-million-increase-mixed-local-tax-impacts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6330421-c703403abcdfef4f388eb98c4356bfde/orig.mp4?Expires=1775897768&Signature=QHW7Sk9DFE4jxM8RfDu2UbvjYvTNqOX9RzzCo84MFXLzpFJgyt2zsL-l-qJUzIH6QXZFxO72RDoT6WOtCN3Wd8IBloS8UAMq0giEsAiqaRqLD6Tf00jgTRzC-5e5PG7hJRm-NeNljvQ2o6h3Bk-IbqNNxBPI~H2VS3U9wOmHz2vx4fwLsnLTO2fQ~IBlCaD38fGn5IXd12IIkImCeinrbQrzVYZil90fHEnde1sXZJdaetrEYu-8gUJ1pftI1o9pdrPmiA9JyQXtoZ~OkRwKYB3izlYTqdR5iV~0C7eD5KQIWklRWccM1Gl5RL8J0ut46Swns5rd8szEm6WAQiirkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Joanne Canning presented an informational overview of the Barre Unified Union School District's proposed fiscal year 2026 general fund budget during the board's public meeting. The draft budget shows an increase of about $2,600,000, which Canning described as roughly a 4.95% rise over last year.

Canning said the district is prioritizing ‘‘quality of our staff over quantity’’ and will invest in professional development and a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) that includes expanded interventionist roles and other tiered supports. \"We brought forth a budget that emphasizes quality of our staff over quantity,\" Canning said during the presentation.

The presentation listed reductions the administration recommended to stay within the proposed expense level: reductions in clerical support, several leadership stipends, one full-time equivalent (FTE) school counselor, two math-teacher FTEs, one distance-learning teacher position with that function to be transferred to another department, one general-education paraprofessional, reductions tied to projected enrollments (three FTE teachers in Barre City under class-size policy), and modest cuts to music supplies and some building utilities. A large facilities project planned for next year was proposed to be moved to the district's capital reserve fund.

Canning and business manager Lisa Peralt presented comparative figures showing FY25 general-fund spending near $53.0 million and a FY26 general-fund projection near $55.9 million; when certain grant funding is included the administration estimated a 4.65% increase. Peralt noted state averages from the tax commissioner's annual letter: the statewide average homestead property tax rate was estimated at $1.75 per $100 of assessed value while Barre's estimate is about $1.30. The administration also estimated a modest tax-rate impact to local property owners: \"estimated tax rate and impact to folks in Barre City is almost a 2¢ reduction, and in Barre Town, it's about 4¢,\" Canning said.

The administration said it offered an early-notification retirement stipend that three staff members accepted; the superintendent said the district will attempt to manage staffing reductions through attrition where possible and would provide further detail as positions are finalized.

Canning said the budget supports the district strategic plan and MTSS work, and emphasized communication with families: the administration has held several public \"coffee and conversation\" meetings and posted explanatory materials including a video produced by a Vermont Public Radio contributor explaining the education spending formula and tax-rate calculations.

Board members asked clarifying questions about whether staff reductions were layoffs versus attrition; Canning said some reductions stemmed from attrition and early-notice stipends but that the situation remained developing. The board did not take formal action on the budget at the meeting; the presentation was described as informational and the administration said the budget materials will be in the next board packet and that staff can follow up individually by phone or email for more detail.

Ending: The administration invited members of the public to contact the superintendent, building principals or business office with specific questions and said the full budget packet will be available with the next board materials. The board did not adopt the budget at the meeting; this presentation was presented as public information and a step in the FY26 adoption process.","Superintendent Joanne Canning presented a FY26 general fund budget that increases roughly $2.6 million (about 4.9%) over FY25; the proposal includes staff reductions, shifting a major facilities project to reserves and small estimated property tax rate changes in Barre City and Barre Town.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: agenda adoption, consent items, policy committee charge, superintendent screening and personnel leave authorized

Youth First Mentoring expands into Barre City; board approves off-campus 'Empty Bowls' fundraiser

Spaulding High to launch Freshman Academy and numeric proficiency scale to support transition and graduation pathways

Barre Unified Union School District presents FY26 budget: $2.6 million increase, mixed local tax impacts