Superintendent's Corner

Our Vision:

Engaging hearts and minds for a limitless future

WSESU - where students want to learn, staff want to work, and families want to live

Our Mission:

WSESU is a diverse community of learners where:

Every learner has the potential to be a leader
Students have a strong voice in shaping their school experiences
Learning is personal, connected, and relevant
High expectations exist in caring, nurturing environments
Individuals grow into larger communities, while also broadening a sense of self
Positive relationships define the interactions between school and the community
Students get better at making decisions by making decisions
Everyone is able to bring their full selves to the learning experience

National Honor Society Sponsored High School Staff Member of the Month

We are proud to recognize Mr. Jake Meagher, as the December WHS Teacher of the Month. Mr. Meagher consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to student learning by making history and civics engaging, relevant, and accessible to all learners. In his classroom, students are encouraged to think critically, ask meaningful questions, and make connections between past events and the world they experience today. Mr. Meagher creates a learning environment that is both structured and welcoming, where students feel comfortable sharing ideas and challenging themselves academically. One student had this to stay when asked about Mr. Meagher, "he's the goat." Beyond content knowledge, Mr. Meagher emphasizes civic responsibility, respectful discussion, and analytical thinking—skills that prepare students not only for academic success, but for active and informed citizenship. His dedication to thoughtful instruction and positive student relationships has made a lasting impact on his students and colleagues alike. Congratulations to Jake Meagher on being named Teacher of the Month, and thank you for your continued dedication to our school community.

Rotary Sponsored High School Student of the Month

We are pleased to recognize Lilly Keefe as the December WHS Student of the Month for her outstanding commitment and performance this year. Lilly consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity, and a clear drive to succeed. In the classroom, Lilly approaches challenging material with focus and determination. She actively engages in discussions, asks thoughtful questions, and shows a genuine interest in understanding complex topics in all of her classes this year. Her willingness to put in the effort required to master new concepts reflects both her potential and her commitment to academic growth. Beyond her academic performance, Lilly sets a positive example through her responsibility, perseverance, and motivation. She takes pride in her work and continually strives to improve, making her a valued member of the Windsor High School community. Congratulations to Lilly Keefe on being named Student of the Month. Her dedication and drive for success are well deserved, and we look forward to seeing all that she will accomplish.

On March 2nd, our staff will choose from three professional development pathways, one of which is Universal Design for Learning (UDL). UDL is one of our student-centered approaches that is part of WSESU Learning Framework. UDL is an evidence-based framework that encourages educators to proactively design flexible learning environments by providing multiple means of engagement, representation, and action/expression so that all learners—including those with diverse needs—can access, participate in, and progress in the curriculum; implementing UDL reduces barriers, supports teacher planning through purposeful scaffolds and choice, and improves equity and outcomes across classrooms and educational settings.

Dear Community Members,

I am writing to share that all three of our local district boards have officially approved their respective budgets for the upcoming fiscal year.

This year’s planning process was bolstered by the dedicated work of our Budget Advisory Committees. These community-led groups provided invaluable perspective and partnership as we navigated a particularly challenging fiscal environment.

Factors Influencing the FY27 Budgets

Like many districts across Vermont, we are facing significant non-discretionary cost drivers that have necessitated budget increases. These primary factors include:

Rising Operational Costs: Substantial increases in healthcare premiums and negotiated staff wages.
Specialized Services: Rising costs associated with mandated special education services.
Tuition Pressures: Significant high school tuition increases affecting our non-operating districts.
Student Weighting & Enrollment: A decrease in our long-term weighted average daily membership (ADM). This reduction in pupil weighting directly increases the per-pupil cost, which has a significant impact on the local tax rate.

Approved Budget Increases by District

The approved increases for each district are as follows:

Hartland School District: 5.24%
Mount Ascutney School District: 5.92%
Weathersfield School District: 11.95%

We remain committed to fiscal transparency. For a detailed breakdown of the departmental spending, revenue projections, and the data animating these decisions, please click the link below to view the FY27 Budget Book.

Thank you for your continued support of our schools and our commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities for every student.

Sincerely,

Christine Bourne

STAR TESTING

The winter session for STAR testing and mCLASS DIBELS will begin this month. Data results will be shared at our board meetings in March, and will be shared at our spring student/parent/teacher conferences.