Orange East Supervisory Union

Dear Orange East Supervisory Union Community,

Welcome back spring! It is sugaring season. Students across the supervisory union are tapping maple trees to see the sap flow and learning about the chemistry of evaporation and syrup making in Vermont. This is just one example of the many outdoor learning experiences our educators provide. Across the supervisory union, we remain dedicated to offering meaningful and enriching opportunities for all students. These kinds of hands-on learning opportunities are made possible through the continued support of our community and thoughtful investment in our schools.

I have wonderful news to share: the Blue Mountain Union budget passed yesterday, March 25, 2026, with 319 yes votes and 317 no votes. Every vote matters. The Oxbow Unified Union School District budget meeting and floor vote will be held on Tuesday, April 28, and the Waits River Valley School District vote will take place on Monday, May 4.

We are hiring. Please visit SchoolSpring or the OESU website to view current openings. While these are tight budget times and some positions are being reduced due to budget constraints, we are still actively hiring. There are two critical positions I would like to highlight. We are seeking a Director of Finance and Operations to oversee budget development and financial management across the supervisory union. This role is essential to strengthening the financial health of our member districts. We are also seeking a new principal for Blue Mountain Union to work alongside Scott Blood. This position is open as Emilie Knisley transitions to her new role as Superintendent of the Barre Unified Union School District. We wish Emilie all the best in this next step of her career.

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

Heather Lawler

Superintendent of Schools

Orange East Supervisory Union

Here is the full Education Legislative Report, Issue 2, March 17, 2026

Highlight S.220 – An act relating to addressing education spending in fiscal years 2028 and 2029.

The latest version of S.220 makes a significant change to how school spending penalties are applied. The bill lowers the “excess spending threshold” from 118% to 112% of the state average per-pupil spending. This does not reduce the penalty itself; rather, it causes the penalty to apply at a lower level of spending.

As a result, our districts are likely to be subject to financial penalties, and a larger share of school budgets could be affected. Districts, like Thetford, that exceed the threshold will face substantially higher tax rates on that portion of spending, increasing pressure to limit budget growth.

For schools, this change is expected to reduce flexibility in budgeting and may require difficult reductions if costs rise faster than the allowable limits.

• S.220 as passed by the Senate Finance Committee
• S.220 Fiscal Note

Here is an excerpt from an email I received from Representative Rebecca Holcombe:

"The Senate passed S220, which is a measure to control per pupil spending that will be extremely punitive in 2027 & 2028. This is the modeling of the fiscal impacts, which will be absolutely horrible for Thetford (A penalty of $1,635,624). When people are struggling with high tax rates, evidently the senate thinks it makes sense to give them even higher tax rates. This document shows how 220 will impact our region disproportionately.

• Excess Spending Analysis with Hold Harmless

Notice that it also hits our region disproportionately, and also hits some very high poverty districts in OESU. This is a terrible piece of policy, and I hope we can drive a spike through it in the House.

Jim and I are still fighting up here."

​***

Rebecca Holcombe (she/her)

House Ways and Means Committee

Vermont House of Representatives

Representing Norwich, Sharon, Strafford and Thetford

If you would like to speak out about anything going on in the legislature right now, here is a list of your Senators and Representatives:

Find a Legislator Search

Orange East Supervisory Union is grateful for Emilie Knisley's years of service as School Principal and as the pervious Superintendent of Schools. As published in the Times Argus and on the Barre Unified Union School District web site on March 17, 2026, Emilie will be the next Superintendent of Barre Unified Union School District.

Times Argus - Barre Superintendent

BUUSD Website

We wish her well on this next step in her career.

We are currently forming the interview committee for a Middle High School Principal for Blue Mountain Union school. The interview committee will include school administrators, board members, students and staff members. This committee will convene on Monday, March 30 to prepare interview questions and will interview candidates on Friday, April 3. On Tuesday, April 7 we are planning a series of panels for the finalists to meet with students, staff, community members, and the board. We will provide a formal schedule for Tuesday, April 7 soon.

• Wednesday, April 1, Blue Mountain Union School Board Reorganization Meeting, 6:00 PM Blue Mountain Union School
• Thursday, April 2, Family Literacy Night, 5:30 PM Blue Mountain Union School
• Wednesday, April 8, OUUSD Board Meeting 5:30 PM Oxbow Middle High School
• Tuesday, April 7, Principal Finalists at BMU & Special Meeting of the BMU Board
• Thursday, April 9, WRVSD Board Meeting, 6:00 PM Waits River Valley School
• Tuesday, April 14, River Bend RAB Meeting, 5:30 PM River Bend Career and Technical Center
• Tuesday, April 14, TTSD Board Meeting, 6:00 PM Thetford Elementary School
• Thursday, April 16, Oxbow Middle High School Celebration of Learning
• Thursday, April 16, 6:00 PM Gone Guys Movie Screening at Oxbow High School Auditorium
• Tuesday, April 21, Community Forum & OESU Board Meeting, 6:00 PM Oxbow Middle High School
• Thursday, April 30, WRVSD Informational Meeting 6:00 PM Waits River Valley School
• TBA Oxbow Unified Union School Budget Meeting and vote
• Monday, May 4, Waits River Valley School Budget Meeting and vote

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

Newsletters from our schools:

Thetford Elementary School Newsletter 03/20

Waits River Valley Newsletter 03/20

Newbury Elementary School Newsletter 3/20

River Bend March Newsletter

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