Wednesday, October 6
9:00 – 10:30 am
Mendon residents are invited to stop by to provide input on State issues of importance to you or just to say hi. Feedback and suggestions to move Vermont forward are always welcome.
Rain date Sunday, September 19th
Due to Covid restrictions hamburgers, hot dogs with individually packaged condiments, beverages, and dessert will be provided. Please bring side dishes for just yourselves. There will be smaller tables allowing for social distancing. There will be games for children and a display of Irene pictures. Please come to commemorate the memory of Irene and have an enjoyable time with Mendon neighbors.
1st half of property taxes are due
September 13, 2021
We will have extended office hours as follows:
Friday September 10 open 9:00am – 12:00pm
Monday September 13 open 8:00am – 6:00pm
ANY TAXES NOT RECEIVED IN THE OFFICE OR POSTMARKED WITH A USPS POSTMARK BY SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 WILL, IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE STATUTES, BE SUBJECT TO 1% INTEREST PER MONTH.
2282 US Route 4
Mendon, Vermont 05701
802-775-1662
WARNING
Special Selectboard Meeting
There will be a Special Selectboard Meeting on Friday September 13, 2021 at the intersection of Wheelerville Road and the Falls Road @ 9:00 AM. The purpose of this meeting is to conduct a site visit of the Falls Road.
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
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.
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
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