We are excited to recognize two of our educators, Lauren Farina and William “Bill” Fitzgerald, who were honored with the 44th Vermont Outstanding Educator Awards on Thursday, November 7, 2024. This prestigious recognition honors their exceptional contributions to education and their unwavering dedication to the success and well-being of their students.

Lauren Farina, Middle School Behavior Specialist, was recognized for her steadfast commitment to supporting students through even their most challenging moments. Known for her calm, thoughtful, and nurturing approach, Lauren has built strong, trusting relationships with her students. Her dedication to meeting the diverse needs of each student has made her an invaluable part of the Saint Johnsbury School community.

William “Bill” Fitzgerald, Physical Education Teacher, was celebrated for his boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm. His passion for physical activity has inspired countless students to embrace a healthy, active lifestyle. Bill’s leadership within the athletic department and mentorship of fellow educators has played a key role in shaping the PE program at Saint Johnsbury School.

The Vermont Outstanding Educator Awards, presented annually by the University of Vermont’s College of Education and Social Services, recognize the hard work, patience, and perseverance of educators across the state. The award honors those who make a lasting impact on their students and communities, and Lauren and Bill are truly deserving of this recognition.

The Saint Johnsbury School District extends its heartfelt congratulations to Lauren and Bill on this well-deserved honor. Their continued dedication to inspiring and educating the next generation of students serves as a shining example of the excellence within our educational community.

At the January 6th school board meeting, the St. Johnsbury School Board approved the proposed FY 2026 budget, which totals $30,217,239, reflecting a 3.19% increase from last year. The proposed budget also results in an anticipated property homestead tax rate decrease of $0.02, bringing the rate down to $1.77.

Detailed budget information can be found on our budget information page on our website. Answers to frequently asked questions are available on our FAQ page, and additional questions can be submitted via the Connect with Us page found on our website at stjsd.org.

Vermont offers online voter registration. You can register by mail to vote in Vermont by printing a voter registration form, filling it out, and mailing it to the Town Clerk's Office. You can also register to vote in person if you prefer even on election day.

Absentee ballots can be requested from the Town Clerk's Office. Absentee ballots can be used to vote up until 3:00pm on the Monday before voting. Ballots will be available by February 10th but may be requested anytime. Absentee ballots will need to be requested by phone, email or online through https://mvp.vermont.gov/.

We want to inform you that the St. Johnsbury School District was affected by a recent PowerSchool cybersecurity breach. The breach involved unauthorized access to our database and it appears that no sensitive information was accessed. PowerSchool has released a public statement and a set of FAQs to provide more information about the breach and its resolution. These resources are being regularly updated. To access the FAQs and learn more, please visit PowerSchool's [FAQ page]. We appreciate your patience as we work to keep the community informed and ensure transparency throughout this process. We will update you with more information when it becomes available.

If you have immediate questions please contact Superintendent Karen Conroy at Karen.Conroy@stjsd.org.

We are currently experiencing technical issues between Delta Dental and Employee Navigator, which caused some employees to be incorrectly terminated on 12/01/2024. Delta Dental is working to resolve this, and they began addressing the issue yesterday. Once the problem is fixed, you may need to have your dentist resubmit any claims.

W-2 forms will be available on January 31st and will be mailed to you as well as posted in the employee portal.

Employees will not automatically receive a 1095 form unless requested. If you need a printed copy, please email Vanessa.Koch@stjsd.org or make the request through the employee portal. The 1095 form will be available for full-time employees in the portal no later than March 3, 2025, in accordance with IRS guidelines.

If you have questions about the above please contact Vanessa Koch, Human Resources Director at Vanessa.Koch@stjsd.org.

Payroll documents are located in the shared Google Drive. View the updated Google Slideshow that provides screenshots of the Google Drive, example timesheets, Frontline, Employee Access Center (EAC), information on understanding your pay stub, and links to tax resources.

To prevent fraud, documents that include confidential information (such as social security number or account numbers) must be submitted in person at the school or district office.

The Vermont State Retirement System (VSTR/VMER) has warned of fraudulent messages received with titles such as “Annual Pension and Benefits Review.” Members should always use “member direct” to access your account information. The Vermont Office of the State Treasurer has more information and enrollment instructions for member direct.

Johanna is available Mondays through Thursdays for your questions and concerns. email: jsnedeker@stjsd.org phone: (802) 745-2788 or ext. 2788.

We are actively pursuing competitive grants to enhance current and future student programming opportunities, and we are eagerly awaiting the results of several grant applications. If awarded, this funding will support the expansion of our summer and after-school programs, as well as a Community Schools Grant that would allow us to develop a therapeutic day program for students whose needs cannot be met in the traditional classroom setting. These exciting opportunities, totaling $795,000, are crucial for our school community, and we will keep you informed as we receive updates. Additionally, we are working with Marc Brown to apply for FEMA funding to recover costs from the summer flooding, which could reimburse us for up to 75% of the repair expenses.

Public Relations Committee

The Public Relations Committee (PR) meets every third Thursday at 3:00 pm in the St. Johnsbury School Conference Room. We invite all members of our school community to join us as we work together to celebrate the great things happening here at our school. The PR Committee focuses on promoting the school’s positive impact in our community, fostering goodwill between our school, employees, and the public, and ensuring that the St. Johnsbury School is seen as a vital part of our community. If you are unable to attend in person, we offer the option to participate virtually. If you would like to join us remotely please use this Zoom link.

Currently, our focus in the PR Committee is communicating about the school budget—we want to make sure the entire community is informed on our budget, how to vote, and where to find more information. Your participation is vital in helping us effectively share this important information.

Finally, if you have exciting news to share and would like a press release issued, please feel free to reach out to me at charlotte.holt@stjsd.org. Be sure to include details and verify that any photos do not contain students on the “do not photo” list, and we will be happy to help share the wonderful things happening in our school.

We are excited to share that the St. Johnsbury School has been awarded with a $15,000 grant to support the development of a Farm to School program.

The St. Johnsbury School's Farm to School program will provide numerous benefits to students, staff, parents, and the wider community. By integrating nutrition education, local food systems, and hands-on agricultural activities into the curriculum, the program enriches students' learning and empowers them to make healthy, sustainable choices.

Key components of the program include:

• Student Engagement: Students will participate in taste-testing programs, preparing and sampling seasonal foods while learning about the origins of their meals. This hands-on approach builds a deeper connection to healthy eating.
• Curriculum Integration: Teachers will incorporate local food topics into lessons, empowering staff to teach interdisciplinary topics related to nutrition, gardening, and sustainability.
• Family Involvement: The school plans to engage parents and caregivers by offering cooking events, nutrition workshops, and providing recipes for healthy meals at home.
• Community Collaboration: By partnering with local farmers, the school will showcase fresh, local produce on school menus, promote community bonding, and support local economies.

We look forward to watching this program grown. Congratulations to the Farm to School team and school community!