From Supervisory Union to Unified Union

1. From Supervisory Union toUnified Union The ANWSU Governance Study Committee’s Responses to Critical Questions

2. “What does ‘Governance’ of a school mean?” • A school board’s job is to govern, or oversee, the business of the school.

3. “What is our current governance structure?” • We are a Supervisory Union • ANWSU Board • 3 Elementary schools • ACS: Addison Central Board • FCS: Ferrisburgh Central Board • VUES: VUES Board • Panton School Board • Waltham School Board • Vergennes ID Board • 1 Middle / High School • VUHS Board

4. Implications of Current Governance Structure Budget Budget ANWSU Board Addison Central Board Ferrisburgh Central Board VUES Board • Panton School Board • Waltham School Board • Vergennes ID Board VUHS Board Budget Budget Budget Budget Budget Budget

5. Implications of Current Governance Structure Transportation Meeting Audit Insurance Budget Transportation Audit Meeting Insurance Budget • ANWSU Board • Addison Central Board • Ferrisburgh Central Board • VUES Board • Panton School Board • Waltham School Board • Vergennes ID Board • VUHS Board Transportation Audit Meeting Insurance Budget Transportation Audit Meeting Insurance Budget Transportation Audit Insurance Meeting Budget Transportation Meeting Insurance Audit Budget Transportation Audit Meeting Insurance Budget Transportation Audit Meeting Insurance Budget

6. Implications of UU Governance Structure Transportation Audit Meeting Budget • Unified Union School District Insurance • A unified union school district is a preK-12 district with one board and one budget.

7. “What will be the Unified Union Board structure?” • There will be a 12-person board with representation based on population from each town. Panton Waltham Ferrisburgh 4 + 2 + 1 + 4 + 1 Addison Vergennes

8. “Will we save money as a Unified Union?” • Savings will be realized in the following areas: • Audits • Board Dues • Transportation • Revised structure will result in efficiencies.

9. “If we were a UU, what would happen to the cost per pupil next budget year?” • Cost per pupil = Budget / Number of Students Addison Central School $15,171. Ferrisburgh Central School $13,604. Vergennes Elementary $12,314. Vergennes High School $13,007. • The cost per pupil is the defining feature for the State of Vermont’s Education Funding Formula.

10. “If we were a UU, what will happen to the cost per pupil next budget year?” • Cost per pupil = Budget / Number of Students Addison Central School $15,171. Ferrisburgh Central School $13,604. Unified Union $13,128. Vergennes Elementary $12,314. Vergennes High School $13,007.

11. Current Educational Tax Rate Information Addison 1.469 Ferrisburgh 1.370 Panton 1.305 Vergennes 1.302 Waltham 1.31

12. “How would this change affect my education tax rate if we were currently a UU?” • The education tax rate would be the same for each town. = $1.3552 • Future changes in education tax rate should stabilize across the district (and each town), rather than fluctuate dramatically as a result of declining enrollment and programmatic changes. • CLA will vary from town to town and across years. School Boards have no control over this number – the State controls it.

13. “By creating a UU, will we all pay for educating students from all the towns?” • We already do – programs and services provided through SU, as well as at the HS - will continue to support the education of all students. • However, each town’s portion of the expenses is allocated by the number of students in each town.

14. “Will more administrators need to be hired to run the UU?” • No.

15. “Will my school be closed?” • NO. There is no plan to close any of the schools. • The formation of a UU is our plan to keep all of our schools open.

16. “Will the teachers be moved from building to building?” • Teachers will not be moved randomly from one school to the next. • Under a UU, schools could share personnel in order to preserve programming and retain qualified teachers in full-time positions.

17. “How will we maintain the sense of community felt at each of the schools?” • Each school will continue to encourage parents and community members to be active participants in our school communities. • Building usage will remain a building matter.

18. “Will the PTA / PTO still be important?” • YES! Absolutely

19. “Will fundraising still be able to happen at the school level?” • Yes. • Money raised at the school level will be used to support Special Activities or Events at that school.

20. “What will happen to the things that make my school special?” • Each school has unique elements we will preserve - or further enhance, to the extent possible.

21. “Why do we have to create a UU to realize these savings?” Declining Student Population + Current Governance Structure = Increasing Student Costs Increasing Costs  Declining Programming Forming UU  preK-12 Student Population + Smaller Governance Structure = Preserving Programming

22. “What happens to the current debt held by each district?” • Costs will be distributed among all five towns. • All the schools bring assets and liabilities

23. Debt load under a Unified Union

24. “What will happen if we don’t vote in the Unified Union?” Small schools across the state are closed • This will be our decision – no one else will make it for us. School consolidation imposed on districts Programs and personnel are cut from budgets Education tax rates continue to rise

25. “What will happen on Town Meeting Day?” • Separate ballots for local elementary school budget and HS budget. • Separate ballot asking whether you are in favor of the formation of a Unified Union • If ‘In Favor’ vote Yes; If ‘Not in Favor’ vote No • Separate ballot listing candidates for Town Offices • Listing of candidates for local elementary board and high school representatives • Listing of candidates for Unified Union District Board

26. Addison Northwest Unified Union • 5 Communities Working Together • 1 Board • 1 Budget • Leaner, more efficient model • Stabilized Education Tax Rates • Nothing Goes Away Except: • Town Lines • Bureaucratic Waste Ferrisburgh Central School Vergennes Union High School Vergennes Union Elementary School Addison Central School

27. www.anwsu.org click on 2009-10 Governance Study

28. Our Schools, Our Children, Our Choice