The Lamoille Ledger
Superintendent's Monthly News - March 27th, 2026
Important Dates and Resources
March 27th - NO SCHOOL (Family Conferences)
April 20th - 24th - NO SCHOOL (Spring Break)
May 25th - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
June 11th - Peoples Academy Graduation
June 13th - Stowe High School Graduation
June 16th - Tentative Last Day of School
Superintendent's Monthly Update
Dear Lamoille South Community,
Happy mud season! It has been a busy month and we hope you had a chance to visit with our teachers over the past two days. We appreciate these moments and if for some reason you were not able to book an appointment, please reach out as we are more than happy to make time for our families.
You may notice students are a bit tired this week. The transition from winter to spring will often impact mood and energy levels. All of this, combined with many of our students taking the state's standardized test (VTCAP), has us ready for some warm weather and sunshine. This time of year is also when students tend to make the most academic growth and teachers are working hard to ensure grade level standards are mastered. As we head into the warmer months, we expect the energy levels to rise and for things to level out as students spend more time outdoors.
Below you can read about a recent celebration and some of the updates regarding state discussions around Act 73 and district consolidation. This is constantly evolving and I will do my best to keep you updated.
As always, please reach out with any questions or feedback.
Have a nice weekend,
Ryan Heraty
Superintendent
Lamoille South Supervisory Union
ryan.heraty@lamoillesouth.org
802-888-4541
Dr. Vernita Vallez: Vermont Principal of the Year
This week, we were thrilled to learn that Dr. Vernita Vallez has been named the Vermont Principals' Association Elementary Principal of the Year! True to form, Dr. Vallez immediately credited the incredible team of educators at Morristown Elementary School and highlighted the school’s steady progress over the past few years in advancing academic growth and supporting every learner.
Earlier this year, the News and Citizen featured a story on the positive momentum building at MES. Reflecting on that transformation, Dr. Vallez shared, “I have never witnessed a transformation like that, which is why I don’t take credit for it. The teachers had the solutions within themselves. I just helped provide the space and time and helped organize. They were the ones who made it work in the classroom.”
Education is a collective effort—and great leadership helps it flourish. Congratulations to Dr. Vallez, the MES team, our families, and especially our students on this well-deserved recognition!
Below: Dr. Vallez meets with a group of students as they prepare for their student-led conferences.
Lamoille South Student Running for Governor!
Legislative Update
There are two main approaches being discussed in Montpelier right now. The Senate Education Committee is proposing a statewide map that would create much larger supervisory unions through state-mandated district consolidation. The House, by contrast, has focused on establishing Cooperative Education Service Agencies (CESAs) — a regional model we strongly support. CESAs, used successfully in many other states, allow districts to share costs for special education, transportation, food service, and professional development while retaining local governance.
Last week, I testified before the Vermont House Education Committee about the real costs of district mergers. You can view that video below, read my written testimony, or see the presentation. Preliminary estimates show it could cost over $6 million to merge districts in Lamoille County alone, with potential long-term impacts on the state pension system. Our school boards have shared concerns about these costs, the potential disruption to learning, and the loss of local voice in decision-making.
Legislative modeling also suggests that merging Lamoille North and Lamoille South might actually decrease total state funding — meaning a newly combined district could face immediate pressure to consider program reductions or school closures, without guaranteed tax savings.
As these proposals advance for further debate and voting, I’ll continue to keep you updated and share opportunities to contact your local legislators.