Lamoille North District Update

Lamoille North Supervisory Union l April 24, 2026

Dear Lamoille North families, staff, and community members,

Welcome back! I hope this week's break provided each of you with a chance to rest, recharge, and enjoy time doing what you love with the people you love. As we open our doors this Monday, we find ourselves at a special moment in the academic year—the final stretch of 2025-2026. With under two months remaining, it is time to channel our collective energy into a strong, celebratory finish.

Reflecting on the journey since August, I am filled with immense pride in what we have accomplished together.

To our students: your growth, curiosity, and resilience have been the hallmark of our schools. Whether in the classroom, on the stage, or on the athletic fields, you have consistently risen to meet high standards of excellence.

To our staff: your unwavering dedication and whole-student approach ensure that our schools are not just places of learning, but high-trust hubs where every student is seen and supported.

The progress we have made in learning and instruction is a testament to the hard work occurring in every classroom. As we enter these final seven weeks, let’s keep our focus and energy strong. This is the time to turn that hard-earned momentum into a lasting legacy for the school year—by polishing capstone projects, reaching or surpassing final learning targets, and continuing to build a culture of mutual respect and a healthy community.

Parents, caregivers, community members, and more: thank you for your partnership, your passion, and your commitment to Lamoille North. Let’s make every day count between now and June!

Catherine Gallagher M.Ed

Superintendent of Schools

Lamoille North Supervisory Union

Vermont lawmakers are continuing to work on Act 73, a major, multi-year effort to reshape how education is organized and funded across the state.

While the goals of the law are clear—improving equity, efficiency, and sustainability—the details are still being debated, and significant decisions remain ahead.

As legislative discussions around education reform continue in Montpelier, Lamoille North is maintaining a cautious and thoughtful view of the work underway. While we recognize the real and growing cost of educating students—and the impact those costs have on taxpayers—we also have concerns about how proposed legislative changes could ultimately affect our students, our schools, and the communities we serve.

Act 73 aims to:

• Create a more consistent funding system for schools across Vermont

• Encourage larger, 'more efficient' school districts

• Expand shared services through regional collaboration

• Ensure more equitable access to educational opportunities for all students

The Legislature is still in the middle of shaping how Act 73 will actually be implemented:

• The timeline for changes is likely to be extended, as current deadlines are considered unrealistic

• The House and Senate are not yet aligned on a final approach

Key questions remain unresolved, including funding for career and technical education, PreK, transportation, and regional cost differences

One of the main proposals this session, H.955, outlines the next steps for education reform:

• It would create regional service organizations called CESAs (Cooperative Educational Service Areas) to share services like special education and business operations

• It requires districts to participate in study committees to explore possible mergers into larger districts

• It proposes pushing major Act 73 deadlines back to 2030 to allow more time for planning

For Lamoille North, this would mean working with other regional districts through a CESA and participating in a study committee to evaluate future district structures.

There is still significant disagreement about the best path forward:

• Governor Scott has indicated he may veto H.955, favoring more immediate and mandatory consolidation of school districts

• Legislative leaders have expressed concern that mandatory mergers may not be practical or supported locally

In addition to Act 73, lawmakers are also addressing:

• Annual decisions about education property taxes (the “yield bill”)

• Efforts to improve career and technical education access

• Ongoing conversations about school costs, including health care and facilities

Education reform in Vermont is still evolving. While no immediate changes are happening locally, the decisions made this year—and in the next few years—could shape:

• How schools are organized

• How resources are shared across districts

• How education is funded statewide

We will continue to monitor developments closely and keep our community informed as this work progresses. Ultimately, we will continue to advocate for what works best for our students and our communities.