Orange East Supervisory Union

Dear Orange East Supervisory Union Community,

Thank you to everyone who participated in Town Meeting Day and the school budget votes. Community engagement in these decisions is deeply important to our schools. Budget results: Thetford Town School District 6.89% increase budget passed. Blue Mountain Union School District 6.66% budget did not pass. The combined BMU town votes were counted and the results were 225 yes and 232 no, a margin of 7 votes. The BMU Board of Directors has approved a revised budget at 5.57% to go to the voters and the BMU budget vote will be on March 25. Voting dates for Oxbow Unified Union and Waits River Valley coming soon.

Joining Blue Mountain Union, who has already adopted a no cell phone policy, Oxbow High School will soon begin using Yondr Pouches to support a distraction-free learning environment. This change will comply with Vermont Act 72 which prohibits cell phones from "bell to bell". You can read more about the plan at Oxbow including their community education event tonight, Wednesday, March 11 at 4:30 PM in this letter: A New Policy for March - for families. We appreciate the community’s partnership as we implement this change.

There have been a few upsetting incidents at some recent athletic events, and as we move from winter sports to spring sports, please take a moment to reflect on why these events matter. Athletics and after school activities are an important part of the student experience and we want them to be positive and meaningful for every student who participates. For that to happen, everyone in attendance needs to demonstrate respect and good sportsmanship. Orange East Supervisory Union schools are committed to safe, respectful, and inclusive environments. Here is a link to the Vermont statement which is read before every school sponsored game. Thank you for helping ensure our games and activities are safe, respectful, and joyful experiences for all students and families. I highly recommend you take 5 minutes to watch the Be the Change Vermont video below. It will make you smile, it will make you proud, and it might make you cry just a little. Don't miss it.

I have linked a few new proposed school redistricting maps below. If you have thoughts about these proposals, I encourage you to share them with your legislators. I provided their contact information to make reaching out easier. While discussions continue in the legislature, our focus remains on providing outstanding schools that meet the needs of all learners.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and schools.

Heather Lawler

Superintendent of Schools

Orange East Supervisory Union

Two maps created by Senator Bongartz and Representative Conlon were before their respective committees last week.

Two draft school district maps developed by Seth Bongartz, chair of the Senate Education Committee, and Peter Conlon, chair of the House Education Committee, were presented to their respective legislative committees last week for discussion. These proposals are part of the Legislature’s ongoing work to consider changes to school district governance across Vermont.

Both proposals would affect the current configuration of the Orange East Supervisory Union. In both maps, Thetford, Vermont is placed in a different district. The two proposals also differ in how remaining Orange East communities would be grouped: one map connects our district more closely with districts to the north, while the other aligns communities more toward the west.

These maps are still in the discussion stage and are intended to begin conversations about possible district configurations. If you would like to share your thoughts on these proposals, a list of Vermont senators and representatives is provided below to help you reach out directly to your legislators.

Here is a list of your Senators and Representatives:

Find a Legislator Search

• Wednesday, March 11, Community Education Event 4:30PM Oxbow High School
• Wednesday, March 11, Oxbow Unified Union School Board Meeting, 5:30PM Oxbow High School
• Thursday, March 12, Waits River Valley School Board Meeting, 6:00PM Waits River Valley School
• Friday, March 13, Beauty and the Beast Musical at Newbury 12:45 matinee and 6:00 evening performances
• Tuesday, March 17, Orange East Supervisory Union Board Meeting, 6:00PM Oxbow High School
• Thursday, March 19, Family Literacy Night, 5:00PM Newbury Elementary School
• Monday, March 23, BMU Budget Information Session, 6:00PM
• Tuesday, March 24, Family Math Night, 5:00PM Blue Mountain Union School
• Wednesday, March 25, BMU Budget Vote
• Wednesday, April 1, Blue Mountain Union School Board Reorganization Meeting, 6:00PM Blue Mountain Union School
• Thursday, April 2, Family Literacy Night, 5:30PM Blue Mountain Union School
• TBA Oxbow Unified Union School Budget vote will be in April
• TBA Waits River Valley School Budget vote will be in early May
• Save the Date - Gone Guys Movie Screening Thursday, April 16, 2026

Full Calendars are available on the OESU website at https://www.oesu.org/calendars.

Newsletters from our schools:

River Bend March Newsletter

Waits River Valley Newsletter 03/06

Orange East Schools are on Facebook! Follow us!

Blue Mountain Union is on Facebook

Bradford Elementary is on Facebook

Newbury Elementary School is on Facebook

Oxbow Middle High is on Facebook

River Bend is on Facebook

Thetford Elementary is on Facebook

Waits River Valley School is on Facebook

OESU is on Facebook

Orange East Supervisory Union (OESU) is located in the beautiful Upper Valley of the Connecticut River, The Central Office is located in Bradford, Vermont. The SU includes Blue Mountain Union School, Bradford Elementary School, Newbury Elementary School, Oxbow Middle High School, River Bend Career and Technical Center, Thetford Elementary School, and Waits River Valley School. The Supervisory Union proudly serves and connects the towns of Bradford, Newbury, Corinth, Groton, Ryegate, Thetford, Topsham, Wells River and local tuition towns. We all work together to support student learning and improve educational outcomes.

Orange East Supervisory Union

64 South Main Street

Bradford, Vermont

(802) 222-5216