Message from Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell:
Dear Slate Valley,
I hope this message finds you well. We want to take a moment to update you on the recent school budget vote that, unfortunately, did not pass. The vote was 1004 yes and 1468 no. The article transferring money to a reserve account was successful. We understand that this news may be disappointing for some of you, as it is for us.
The proposed budget aimed to address critical needs and enhance the overall educational experience for our students. We appreciate the thoughtful consideration that went into the decision-making process by those who participated in the vote. While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, we respect and acknowledge the democratic nature of our community.
Our top priority remains providing the best possible education for our students, and we will continue to work diligently to find alternative solutions in light of the budget failure. This setback challenges us to reassess our priorities and explore creative ways to meet the needs of our students within the financial constraints we face.
We encourage open dialogue and welcome any suggestions or concerns you may have. Your input is invaluable, and we believe that together, as a united community, we can navigate through these challenges and find solutions that benefit our students and the entire school community.
In the coming weeks, we will hold board meetings to discuss the budget failure, gather feedback, and explore potential options moving forward. Your participation and engagement are crucial during this process, and we encourage you to attend these meetings to share your thoughts and ideas.
We remain committed to transparency and collaboration as we work towards a shared goal of providing an exceptional education for our students. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to working together to overcome this challenge.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
New Superintendent's Podcast: First of our School Series - Discussion with FHUMHS Co-Principal Mr. Ben Worthing. View at https://youtu.be/uBnf-6Q4PsA
It's Town Meeting Day! Please exercise your right to VOTE!
Polling Places and Hours:
Benson: 10 am - 7 pm, Benson Community Hall
Castleton: 8 am - 7 pm, Castleton Fire Station
Fair Haven: 10 am - 7 pm, American Legion Post #49
Hubbardton: 10 am - 7 pm, Hubbardton Town Hall
Orwell: 10 am - 7 pm, Orwell Town Hall
West Haven: 10 am - 7 pm, Buckley Memorial Community Hall
The FHU Music and Art programs are happy to announce our first B.E.A.T night happening this Thursday, March 7th, from 7 PM to 9 PM.
This event will include:
Baked Goods &Beverages
Entertainment (mini games with prizes)
Art sale and gallery
and Music performed by FHU students!
Come and enjoy some family time, connect with the community, have some great food, play some games, see some art, and listen to wonderful music! It is a fun night out for all ages!
FREE to enter- donations are appreciated!
Mark your calendar and join us for one, or both, of these parent information nights.
Available for every student, every morning!
Available to every student, every morning!
Your Vote is Your Voice! Exercise it this Tuesday, March 5th!
Mark your calendars for the Continuous Improvement Plan Parent, Family Engagement
& School Compact Meeting
Wednesday, March 13th from 6:00 - 6:30 pm
Fair Haven Grade School Library
(This will be part of the March 13th PTO Meeting)
Last night the Slate Valley UUSD presented their FY25 Proposed Budget at the Annual Meeting. If you were not able to attend you can watch the recording by going to: https://bit.ly/2024SlateValleyAnnualMeeting
Every week, a small group of 5th graders visit the kindergarten classes and do activities with them. This week they read stories to the children. Both groups always look forward to this time together.
Reminder: Tonight - District Annual Meeting - 6:30 PM
The legal voters of the Slate Valley Unified Union School District (SVUUSD) consisting of the towns of Benson, Castleton, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, Orwell and West Haven are hereby warned and notified to meet at Fair Haven Union Middle High School Band Room on Monday, February 26, 2024 at 6:30 PM to
conduct the following business:
Article 1: To elect the following officers to serve for a term of one (1) year: • Moderator • Clerk • Treasurer
Article 2: To hear and act upon the reports of School District Officers.
Article 3: To approve annual salaries for the School Directors and other elected officers of the School District.
Article 4: Shall the voters of the School District authorize the Board of School Directors to borrow money by issuance of bonds or notes in excess of anticipated revenues for the next fiscal year.
Article 5: To have the Board of Directors of the School District present the proposed school budget for the ensuing year.
Article 6: To transact any other business that may come before the meeting.
Attendance can be in-person or virtual.
VIRTUALLY CONNECT BY GOING TO
https://meet.google.com/ozq-kxsp-jst
OR BY CALLING (US) +1 240-428-8613 PIN: 861 320 258#
NOTE: Anyone who attends virtually will be seen as a “passive participant” meaning they can ask questions and comment but cannot vote from the floor.
Reminder - This Wednesday, February 28th, Join Director of Curriculum, Casey O'Meara, for a conversation about teaching and learning in Slate Valley Schools. 5:30 - 6:30PM in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library. Can't attend in person? Join virtually by going to: https://meet.google.com/twg-ybvt-kxi
How about Breakfast out this Sunday to support the Class of 2024 Project Graduation?
February 25, 2024 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Fair Haven American Legion!
Please join us this Thursday, February 22nd, at the Castleton Free Library for some coffee and conversation! Discuss the FY25 budget with administration and school board members. Children are welcome, supervision and creative activities will be available while adults meets. This event begins at noon. We hope to see you there!
Rutland Herald District Spotlight: February 16, 2024
Kindergarten students have been learning to write complete sentences with spaces between words, proper punctuation, and capitalization of first letters in sentences, names, people and places. They also have been working on letter formation. Students then read their best pieces of writing and explained why they used the punctuation and capitalization as they did.
Notice: The Fair Haven Playground will be CLOSED During Break (February 19 - 23) Due to Tree Cutting.
Mark your calendars! On February 28th, Join Director of Curriculum, Casey O'Meara, for a conversation about teaching and learning in Slate Valley Schools. 5:30 PM in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library. If you can't come in person, join virtually by going to: meet.google.com/twg-ybvt-kx
