The Superintendent's Scoop

Dear CVSU Families and Community-

What a joyful March it's been! We celebrated Music Month with a spectacular NMHS performance alongside the 40th Army Band, and our elementary schools hosted incredibly successful reading nights filled with fun, games, and the pure joy of literacy! It was wonderful to see so many families engaged and celebrating learning together.

We're also navigating some important changes. As you know, Google now requires parental consent for under-18 YouTube access. Effective March 21st, CVSU has blocked student access to You Tube while maintaining teacher access for instructional purposes. We'll be evaluating the impact of this over the coming months.

On a brighter note, despite three snow days, we only need to make up one! Our last day of school is now Wednesday, June 18th, 2025 with a 1 pm dismissal. And mark your calendars: the FY26 school calendar is approved and available at CVSU.org, with the first day of school set for Wednesday, August 27, 2025!

Thank you for being such a wonderful and engaged community. Here's to a fantastic spring!

With gratitude, Matthew Fedders

Important Dates:

April 9- 1pm Dismissal

April 17-PMSD School Budget Revote
April 21-25 Spring Vacation

May 14-1pm Dismissal

May 26-Memorial Day

Dear Paine Mountain SD Families:

On Thursday, April 17, voters in the Paine Mountain School District will have the opportunity to weigh in on the school budget revote. The initial vote was incredibly close, falling short by just 33 votes. Some voters may have been concerned by the ballot language showing a 15.6% increase in per pupil spending, but it’s important to understand that per pupil spending is not the same as your tax rate. That figure is influenced by changes in state funding and how students are counted—not just by district expenses. In fact, the education tax rate is flat in Williamstown and rising by only 2% in Northfield, which is lower than our average annual increase over the past five years. This is a responsible, student-centered budget with a minimal impact on taxpayers.

This year’s budget makes key investments in student learning and well-being. We’re adding a special education teacher and counselor at Northfield Middle High to support academic needs and college and career planning, aligning services with what’s already offered at Williamstown Middle High. We’re also adding a teacher to both elementary schools to support students in reading and math. A shared bus route will improve access to programs and athletics across both towns, making it easier for middle and high school students to take advantage of everything Paine Mountain has to offer. We couldn’t do this work without your support. Thank you for being a critical part of the team that helps our students grow, thrive, and succeed.

📅 Please vote on April 17!

What does the Paine Mountain School Budget mean for property taxes?
In Northfield, the projected change in Homestead Tax Rate is + $.04 = $1.89

In Williamstown, the Homestead Tax Rate will remain $0.00=$1.59

The 2025-2026 School Budget maintains level-programing from the 2024-2025 School Budget, with the addition of an additional bus route and 4 staffing increases (which are less than 1.5% of the total budget)

• One additional Bus Route for middle and high school students who are taking classes at the other high school and that are involved in the sports program
• Two additional reading and math teachers at each elementary school to provide individualized academic support to students
• One additional school counselor at Northfield Middle High School to match services at Williamstown Middle High School
• One additional special educator at Northfield Middle HS to support students needs

At the initial vote on March 4, 2025 the Paine Mountain SD School Budget failed to pass by 33 votes. Please be sure to participate in the Re-Vote on Thursday, April 17, 2025

Community Information Nights-
Mark your calendars for Two PMSD Revote Budget Information Forums:

April 8, 2025 at Northfield Middle HS-6pm

April 16, 2025 at Williamstown Middle HS-6pm
Or attend remotely-link at CVSU.org

Let’s work together for a bright future!
📅 Revote: April 17, 2025
✔️ Learn more: CVSU.org
☎️ 802-433-5818 | mfedders@cvsu.org
🗳️Can't vote in person? Use an absentee ballot! Support our students.

Are you registered to Vote?

Visit: mvp.vermont.gov

If you're not registered to vote yet, don't worry!
Here's how you can get in on the action:
Online: Save time and register at olvr.vermont.gov It's quick and convenient!

Would you like to vote by absentee ballot contact your Town Clerk's Office-
Northfield Town Clerk's-802-485-5421

Williamstown Town Clerk's-802-433-5455

Dear Echo Valley Community SD Community-

We extend our sincere gratitude for your unwavering support during Town Meeting Day. Your participation and thoughtful consideration of the FY26 school budget was invaluable.

The results speak volumes: a resounding 35-9 vote in favor of the proposed budget. This clear demonstration of your trust and investment in our schools is appreciated. We understand that budget decisions are never easy, and we are committed to being responsible stewards of your tax dollars, ensuring that every resource directly benefits our students' educational experience.

This budget enables us to maintain and enhance the quality of education our children deserve. It will also support an additional teacher to support reading and math instruction. This investment is crucial for fostering a learning environment where every student can thrive and reach their full potential.

We recognize that a strong school system is a cornerstone of a vibrant community. Your support reinforces our commitment to providing a safe, nurturing, and academically challenging environment for all EVCSD students.

We're excited to share some delicious updates from our school kitchens! We're committed to providing our students with nutritious meals that support their learning and well-being.

This year, we've been focusing on "Heart" healthy meals, including expanding our plant-based options. Our plant-based tacos were a hit across all schools, and the vegan "chicken" nugget taste test at Northfield Elementary was a huge success! Look for these nuggets as a regular menu item soon. We've also begun using organic yogurt from Rogers Dairy Farm in Berlin, VT at most of our schools this month, adding another local and healthy option to our menus.

We're also proud to strengthen our commitment to local sourcing. In addition to our continued partnerships with Washington (Maple Syrup), Cabot and Rogers Dairy (yogurt), and Burtt's and other VT orchards (apples), we're now sourcing our ground beef from Lambert Farm in Washington and our potatoes from Chapelle's in Williamstown.

And there's more exciting news! All CVSU schools are now participating in the Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Snack Program, providing a healthy snack to all children in grades K-8. This program ensures our students have access to fresh, nutritious snacks throughout the school day.

February's Harvest of the Month was carrots! Students enjoyed taste tests featuring local Vermont carrots. We're also encouraging everyone to "Eat the Rainbow" by enjoying a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.

We believe that healthy eating habits are essential for student success, and we're grateful for your support in making these initiatives possible.

Our afterschool programs are blooming with excitement, offering students a wide range of enriching experiences that extend learning and fun beyond the school day. We're embracing the Vermont Spring, even with a little snow on the side, and diving into exciting activities!

Here's a glimpse into what our students have been up to:

• Creative Challenges: On Wednesdays, students put their engineering skills to the test in a LEGO Challenge, working in teams to design and build incredible structures to accomplish specific tasks.

• Exploring Nature: Students worked together to match animals with their tracks during a visit from the Montshire Museum of Science, learning about the fascinating world of local ecology.

• Mastering New Skills: Monday afternoons are for "Home Skills" for our middle schoolers. They're currently engaged in the art of basic embroidery and sewing.

• Game On! During downtime at ONWARD, students build friendships and strategic thinking skills by helping one another learn new card games.

• Green Thumbs in Action: Students are getting their hands dirty and learning about sustainability by preparing starters to be transplanted into the ONWARD Aquaponics tank.

• Minecraft Mania: Our Minecraft club is a hit, running two days a week! Students engage socially through the Minecraft world while learning coding, creating new worlds, and conquering tasks or challenges together.

• Outdoor Explorers: Our outdoor explore group is enjoying the new Vermont Spring (with some snow!), and we're all ready for some sunshine!

These activities are just a snapshot of the dynamic and engaging opportunities available in our afterschool programs. We're committed to providing a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment where every student can discover new passions, develop essential skills, and thrive!

• Over 400 students attend our Afterschool Programs annually
• 44% of our students qualify for free or reduced school meals
• Our Afterschool Program employs approximately 75 staff including school-day employees, college students, high school students, and community members
• We are open in all our programs from 3pm to 5pm for 165 days during the school year and from 8am to 5pm for 25 days during the summer.
• Our fees are $2, $5, or $10 per day, depending on family income. The most it costs one child to attend our program for a full week is $50, compared to more than $140/week for part time day care. Our fees are not mandatory-no child is ever denied enrollment for the inability to pay.
• Below is a selection of programs that were offered in our 2024-2025 School year
• Lego Challenges
• Basketball
• Jewelry-Making
• Simple Cooking
• Minecraft EDU
• Clay Creations
• Sums and Games
• American Sign Language
• German Language
• Jr. Iron Chef

With affordable fees and a dedicated team, our afterschool program continues to make a significant impact. We are committed to providing quality care and enrichment for all children in our community. Join us in supporting this vital resource!

• Follow us online: Stay up-to-date with all things Central Vermont Supervisory Union by following us on our Facebook Pages and check our websites regularly (cvsu.org).

• Contact Us: Have questions or need more information? Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at (802) 433-5818 or stop by at 111b Brush Hill Road, Williamstown, VT 05679