Superintendent's Corner: September 4, 2026 · Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union

Our Vision:

Engaging hearts and minds for a limitless future

WSESU - where students want to learn, staff want to work, and families want to live

Our Mission:

WSESU is a diverse community of learners where:

Every learner has the potential to be a leader

Students have a strong voice in shaping their school experiences

Learning is personal, connected, and relevant

High expectations exist in caring, nurturing environments

Individuals grow into larger communities, while also broadening a sense of self

Positive relationships define the interactions between school and the community

Students get better at making decisions by making decisions

Everyone is able to bring their full selves to the learning experience

Special Education Parent Survey: Your Voice Matters

Are you a parent of a student who received special education services between July 1, 2025 to December 1, 2025? If so, please complete this Special Education Parent Involvement Survey. Your feedback helps to improve special education services and student outcomes in your supervisory union or district and is completely anonymous.

If you have not yet completed this survey, please submit your response by September 15, 2026.

If you need your unique survey identification code call: (802) 828-1256

For additional information about this survey visit: VT AOE Special Education Parent Survey Webpage

Merger Tax Estimator

No doubt many of you have heard of the latest round of state consolidation laws from the past few legislative sessions. At the all board retreat last month, we presented amerger tool for community taxpayers that I created. You can find it here:https://mergertool.wsesu.net

It has several features:

3 merger (or no merger) scenarios to choose from;

A slider where users can set their home value or enter the exact value they want to model as well as choose the merger year;

A "How the math works" section where we walk through the entire process of setting our tax rates;

A 15/20 year projection per-town comparing the selected merger scenario with the status quo;

Four what-if sliders where users can decide - A) how much (or not) to reinvest merger savings into education spending; B) their own custom education spending annual growth rate; C) the year for a possible reappraisal; and D) the last class for possible tuition transitioning;

A Frequently Asked Questions section;

And a live "see the math" feature where users can fully and transparently see the ledger for the exact scenario they chose down to the penny - so there is no misunderstanding the 'math behind the math'.

Our Students Are Happy to be Back in School!

A big thank you to our entire WSESU community for your partnership in implementing our cell phone policy!

The difference in our schools has been incredible to witness. Without personal devices on hand, our classrooms are energized with higher student engagement, richer discussions, and better focus. Beyond academics, it has been wonderful to see students interacting with each other face-to-face throughout the school day, building real connections and a stronger sense of community.

We deeply appreciate your support in prioritizing student learning and well-being. Together, we are creating a focused, welcoming environment for all our children!

ACT 170

Act 170 (H.955), signed into law in 2026, establishes a statewide framework for school district merger study committees, bringing all of Vermont’s school districts together in regional groups to engage in structured, data-driven conversations about the future of public education. The process is designed to be community-centered, evidence-based, and facilitated by neutral professionals with final decisions resting with local voters.

Dana Brown has been hired as the facilitator of the South East Region of the state.

Dana Brown brings forty-six years of experience in education, including classroom teaching at the

middle, high school, and graduate levels, sixteen years as a building principal, and senior district and state committee leadership roles. A former Massachusetts Principal of the Year, Dana has led in demanding educational environments, including district and state-receivership settings, developing the skills to navigate complex, high-stakes situations with clarity and steadiness.

Throughout his career, Dana has convened diverse stakeholders, managed sensitive and politically

complex issues, and translated educational, operational, and fiscal considerations for school boards, community members, state agencies, and policy leaders. He currently coaches and mentors principals, assistant principals, and district leaders, focusing on leadership development, collaborative teams, and organizational change.

Dana also served as an elected city councilor in his hometown outside of Boston, bringing firsthand

experience in public-sector governance and community accountability. He approaches the Act 170

facilitation process with a commitment to neutral, transparent, community-centered conversations

focused on what matters most: positive outcomes for students.

What the Regional Facilitators Will Do:

In their roles, Regional Facilitators will be responsible for:

● Confirming and organizing merger study committees within their assigned regions in

consultation with the Lead Facilitator;

● Supporting transparent, consistent communication with communities throughout the process in

conjunction with their committees;

● Facilitating structured merger study conversations;

● Monitoring committee engagement and adherence to Act 170 timelines;

● Drafting final merger study reports and recommendations in cooperation with their committees.

Key Milestones Under Act 170:

The following milestones reflect the statutory timeline established under Act 170:

September 1st, 2026: Lead Facilitator and Regional Facilitators contracted

October 15, 2026: First merger study committee meetings convene

September 1, 2027: Final merger study committee reports due

December 2027: Agency of Education / State Board of Education approvals occur

March 2028: Possible community votes on proposed merged districts

Each of our district board is required to have one board member on the Merger Study Committee. Anthony Wilson has been appointed by the Hartland School Board. The MASD and Weathersfield Boards will appoint members at their meeting this month.

Important Dates and Information!

Join the VT Educator of Color Association for their first Free to Be Youth Day! The Free to Be Youth Day is a statewide event creating a BIPOC-centered space providing opportunities for connection, healing and joy. If you know any middle or high-school aged youth interested in going to this event, please let us know!

Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union

Email: christine.bourne@wsesu.net

Website: https://www.wsesu.net/

Location: 54 Main Street, Windsor, VT 05089
Phone: 802-674-2144
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WindsorSoutheastSupervisoryUnion
X(formerly Twitter): @WSESU

Instagram:@wsesuvt