PUBLIC NOTICE OF SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL MEETING

Posted by & filed under Announcement, BUUSD.

BARSTOW UNIFIED UNION SCHOOL BOARD

6:00 – 8:00 PM
Wednesday, September 8, 2021

ONLINE/DIAL IN via Zoom – https://tinyurl.com/4txjshtx
Meeting ID: 863 5358 0024 Passcode: Rh5471

In-Person Option Available at RNESU Central Office (49 Court Drive, Brandon, VT)
In-Person participants and observers are required to wear facial coverings.

SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
I. 6:00 p.m. Call the Meeting to Order
● Pledge of Allegiance
● Review and Accept Agenda
Are these the right agenda topics?
Is the right amount of time allotted?
Time Keeper
II. 6:05 p.m. Public Comment (Policy 4.2)

Thank you for coming to speak to the board. We appreciate your time, and we are happy for
you to use this part of the meeting to get your comments on record and to our attention. If
there are multiple comments, each person will be limited to two minutes to ensure that all get
to speak. When you speak, please state your name and the topic of your comments before you
begin. After you have finished we may ask clarifying questions, and the superintendent or
board chair may offer helpful resources about your topic, but we will not have a board
discussion of any topics other than those on the published agenda. The board’s expectation is
that if an issue is something the board should act on, the superintendent will follow up and
bring it to the board through the agenda planning process.

III. 6:10 p.m. Governance Process (Policy 4.0)

● Prepare for Public Forum re: High School Choice Policy

IV. 7:00 p.m. Next Agenda

● BUU Board – Public Forum – Thur., Sept. 9, 2021 – 6:30 PM – Online/Dial In
● BUU Board Meeting – Monday, Sept. 20, 2021 – 6:00 PM – RNESU Central
Office & Online/Dial In
V. 7:05 p.m. Board Self Evaluation (Policy 4.1)
● Board Meeting Evaluation
VI. 7:10 p.m. Executive Session (anticipated)

● High School Choice Policy Discussion with Attorney

VII. 7:30 p.m. Adjourn

PUBLIC NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING AND VIRTUAL COMMUNITY FORUM

Posted by & filed under Announcement, BUUSD.

BARSTOW UNIFIED UNION SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL MEETING and VIRTUAL COMMUNITY FORUM
to Discuss Equity of High School Choice Policy

6:30 – 8:00 PM
Thursday, September 9, 2021

VIRTUAL FORUM will be on ZOOM – https://tinyurl.com/32yxytt2

Meeting ID: 842 3688 0830 Passcode: y6Q1f9

with a physical location of RNESU Central Office* (49 Court Drive, Brandon, VT)

*In-Person participants and observers are required to wear facial coverings.

SCHOOL BOARD SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
I. 6:30 p.m. Call the Meeting to Order
 Welcome and Introductions

II. 6:35 p.m. Presentation of the Board – Equity of High School Choice Policy

The Barstow Unified Union School Board would like your input on whether the voters should
refine the Barstow High School Choice options. More specifically, the change being considered
for a public vote is to limit the options to the three public schools used by 95% of Barstow
graduates who choose public schools: Rutland High School, Otter Valley High School and
Proctor High School.

III. 6:40 p.m. Public Forum – The forum will be moderated by Linda Reis.

Thank you for coming to speak to the board. We appreciate your time, and we are happy for you
to use this part of the meeting to get your comments on record and to our attention. If there are
multiple comments, each person will be limited to two minutes to ensure that all get to speak.
When you speak, please state your name and the topic of your comments before you begin. After
you have finished we may ask clarifying questions, and the superintendent or board chair may
offer helpful resources about your topic, but we will not have a board discussion of any topics
other than those on the published agenda. The board’s expectation is that if an issue is something
the board should act on, the superintendent will follow up and bring it to the board through the
agenda planning process.


IV. 7:50 p.m. Next Agenda

 BUU Board Meeting – Monday, Sept. 20, 2021 – 6:00 PM – RNESU Central Office
(49 Court Drive, Brandon, VT) & Online/Dial In

V. 7:55 p.m. Executive Session (if necessary)
VI. 8:00 p.m. Adjourn

Unable to attend the Public Forum? Share your thoughts and comments with the Board through
Let’s Talk at https://tinyurl.com/cy3wnf65 or text to: (802) 243-0461.
The Board is also offering a ThoughtExchange (https://tinyurl.com/335vp9fz)
to share your thoughts and rank the thoughts of others. Please consider participating in this as well.

BUU Campaign to Define School Choice to Public Schools

Posted by & filed under Announcement, BUUSD.

What: The Barstow School Board would like your input on whether the voters should refine the
Barstow School Choice options. More specifically, the change being considered is to limit the
options to the three public schools used by 95% of Barstow graduates: Rutland High School, Otter
Valley High School and Proctor High School.
Why?: The Barstow School Board has set a focus on ensuring all students have equitable
opportunities to access a rigorous education. The current school choice model of public and
private schools does not allow for equitable access for all students.
● Private schools do not enroll students who require services beyond basic education
services and many have by-laws that deny access to particular groups of students by
such factors as race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, language,
culture, ability or accessibility needs, socioeconomic status, citizenship, creed, religion,
tribal status.
● Public schools are required to follow anti-discrimination laws and provide access to all
students.
● 95% of Barstow families choose Rutland High School, Otter Valley High School and
Proctor High School. Many private school options are only accessible to families who
can pay the difference between the public school tuition amounts and the remainder of
charged tuition. This creates inequitable access for Chittenden and Mendon students.
● Wide open choice to public and private schools impacts budget stability and planning.
● Taxes in Chittenden and Mendon currently pay for both private and public school choices
with no ability to oversee equitable admissions processes.
Impact: Choosing three public school high school options continues to allow high school choice
for Mendon and Chittenden residents while ensuring tax dollars are being spent at schools which
are academically and financially accessible for all Barstow students.
Learn more:
● Barstow School Board will hold a virtual forum to discuss these options on
September 9, 2021 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The Zoom link will be on the school website
the day of the forum.
● Reference: Vermont regulations for school districts not maintaining a high school 16 V.S.A.
§ 827

BUU Campaign to Define School Choice to Public Schools

Posted by & filed under Announcement, BUUSD.

What: The Barstow School Board would like your input on whether the voters should refine the
Barstow School Choice options. More specifically, the change being considered is to limit the
options to the three public schools used by 95% of Barstow graduates: Rutland High School, Otter
Valley High School and Proctor High School.
Why?: The Barstow School Board has set a focus on ensuring all students have equitable
opportunities to access a rigorous education. The current school choice model of public and
private schools does not allow for equitable access for all students.
● Private schools do not enroll students who require services beyond basic education
services and many have by-laws that deny access to particular groups of students by
such factors as race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, language,
culture, ability or accessibility needs, socioeconomic status, citizenship, creed, religion,
tribal status.
● Public schools are required to follow anti-discrimination laws and provide access to all
students.
● 95% of Barstow families choose Rutland High School, Otter Valley High School and
Proctor High School. Many private school options are only accessible to families who
can pay the difference between the public school tuition amounts and the remainder of
charged tuition. This creates inequitable access for Chittenden and Mendon students.
● Wide open choice to public and private schools impacts budget stability and planning.
● Taxes in Chittenden and Mendon currently pay for both private and public school choices
with no ability to oversee equitable admissions processes.
Impact: Choosing three public school high school options continues to allow high school choice
for Mendon and Chittenden residents while ensuring tax dollars are being spent at schools which
are academically and financially accessible for all Barstow students.
Learn more:
● Barstow School Board will hold a virtual forum to discuss these options on
September 9, 2021 from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. The Zoom link will be on the school website
the day of the forum.
● Reference: Vermont regulations for school districts not maintaining a high school 16 V.S.A.
§ 827

Old Turnpike Road Paving

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

The Town of Mendon has contracted with Wilk’s Paving to resurface Old Turnpike Road in Mendon. This work is expected to occur on Friday July 23rd and Saturday July 24th. The completion of the project will be dependent on the weather. Please use caution while and follow the direction of flaggers directing traffic while traveling on the road during the paving process. Thank you.

BCA APPEALS DUE JULY 13, 2021

Posted by & filed under Announcement.

Result of Grievances by the Assessor were sent June 29, 2021.

**An appeal from the Assessor to the BCA begins with a written appeal from the taxpayer, filed with the town clerk, listing the grounds for the appeal. 32 V.S.A. § 4404(a). This notice must be filed within 14 days of the date of mailing of the result of grievance notice, by 4:00pm July 13, 2021. They can be emailed to [email protected] or dropped off at the office. Thank you!

BCA Informational HandoutDownload

Mendon on the Move Report

Posted by & filed under Announcement.

We are excited to announce that the final Mendon on the Move Report is now available here: TheMendonCVReport Hard copies are at the Town Office as well.

The report includes the detailed notes and takeaways from each step of the process, as well as resource team member recommendations, their contact information, and the work plan that each task force group built at their first meeting. The report is also a wonderful compilation of assets and ideas from a large number of residents.

UPDATE-Proposed Firearm Discharge Ordinance

Posted by & filed under Announcement.

On 6/14/21 the Selectboard determined the town has completed research regarding the Proposed Firearm Discharge Ordinance and has decided not to pursue adoption of a Firearm Discharge Ordinance at this point in time.

The research included:

  • Reviewing the history of discussion of a Firearm Discharge Ordinance in Mendon in 2015.
  • Reviewing submitted comments before, during and after the Public Hearing conducted on March 15, 2021
  • Interviews with the Vermont State Police, Vermont Game Warden, and Rutland County Sheriff to gather information on the history of response to complaints in Mendon regarding the unsafe discharge of a firearm, as well as ability of these law enforcement agencies to assist with enforcement of the ordinance. 
  • Gathered information from law enforcement agencies regarding the difference between enforcement of an ordinance and issuance of civil penalties versus criminal violations of state statute regarding the unsafe discharging of a firearm and illegal hunting.
  • Researching the number of complaints submitted to the Town in the past 15 years and the nature of those complaints.
  • Researching how many other municipalities in Vermont have a Firearm Discharge Ordinance and the experience in enforcing a Firearm Discharge Ordinance.
  • Reviewing Firearm Discharge Ordinances adopted in other municipalities.

Safety is a priority to the Mendon Selectboard.  The Selectboard encourages individuals that choose to discharge firearms and hunt in Mendon to do so safely and in accordance with state statute.  The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is a tremendous resource for learning the safe operation of a firearm as well as how to participate in safety courses in Vermont. www.vtfishandwildlife.com