Dear HUUSD Community,
As we begin the Memorial Day weekend, we are in the final stretch of the 2023-2024 school year. I find it hard to believe that I am concluding my second year in Vermont as the HUUSD superintendent.
While I anticipated spending more of this school year focused on building and strengthening our academic programming for students, most of my days over the past three months have been focused on trimming expenses for what is now the school board's third budget proposal. Regardless, I am honored to serve as the superintendent in these six towns and work with some of the brightest students and finest teachers and staff.
I strongly encourage all of our parents to vote on this budget; it is crucial that we see a strong voter turnout. It is my hope that I will soon be able to turn my attention back to the most important parts of my responsibilities for the children of our schools.
This newsletter contains updates from my office as well as our schools.
Budget Vote May 30:
As you likely know, the school budget failed a second time on April 30. There is a third vote open now through May 30. This revised budget reduces expenditures by approximately $3 million and cuts staff by 27.5 positions from the original proposed budget.
The HUUSD's Director of Finance & Operations has developed a Budget FAQ about the third budget. We encourage you to read through it. The May 30 budget represents a 5.4% increase over this year's budget--which equates to only a slight increase of .09% to HUUSD per pupil spending as calculated by the state’s formula.
A particular question has come up: If this next budget doesn’t pass, what would be the next round of reductions?
- Athletic programs could be eliminated.
- Co-curricular activities such as theater productions and student clubs could be eliminated.
- Additional educational programs and positions, similar to elementary world language--which are outside of the bare minimum state-required services--will need to be reduced.
When and How to Vote:
- Absentee voting is open now at town offices. Check out this district page to find out where to vote and learn additional details about the budget.
- Please vote by May 30! If this budget does not pass, additional reductions to the budget will need to be made--which will have a direct impact on student programming.
School Calendar 2023-2024:
As a reminder, the last student day of the school year will be Friday, June 14, 2024. This day will include an early release as normal for HUUSD. Specific dismissal times will be forthcoming in school newsletters.
School District Website:
The new website went live after the April break. We hope you love it as much as we do!
Thank you for your ongoing support of our schools. If you have any questions or feedback please feel free to reach out to me at mleichliter@huusd.org.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mike
Fayston Bike Unit
Wunderle's Circus at Warren
For the third time in recent years, we had a wonderful, PTO-sponsored, multi-week residency with Troy Wunderle’s circus program, culminating in an incredible all-school performance. Troy is a gifted educator and nationally recognized performer who brings such positivity and energy to our school.
Moretown Artist-in-Residence
Moretown students are enjoying a maker-inspired artist-in-residence program with Lucie deLaBruere and Christina Smith. The residency, titled “Inspired by Nature, a STEAM-infused Maker Residency” has asked our students to be curious about how the natural world has solved human problems. Students have made firefly jars and gecko feet and also examined the waterproof nature of leaves.
CBMS Bee Team
The CBMS Bee team received two Nucs (Hive Nucleus) for our journey in beekeeping this spring. Bees are the most remarkable creatures (just like our students) who thrive as a community based on routines, common agreements, and a common purpose. Over the next few months, our bee team will work to support our bees to become members of our learning community.
Congratulations to Vermont’s newly-named Youth Poet Laureate, Harwood Union ninth grader Harmony Devoe.
- Budget: Vote Now through May 30: See polling places and absentee voting info
- May 27: No School, Memorial Day
- May 29: HUMHS Going Cell Phone Free, Community Dialogue, 6:00-7:30
- June 10: Step Up Day
- June 14: Last Student Day
