Welcome back to another exciting school year! I’d like to take a moment to share some important updates, outline our District goals, and highlight upcoming opportunities for engagement.

This Year’s Goals and Strategic Plan Update

We are excited to begin Year 3 of our five-year strategic plan, which reflects our commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in education. This year, we will build upon the progress made in the first two years, with a strong emphasis on advancing our academic initiatives, enhancing student support services, and fostering community partnerships. Our strategic plan will guide these efforts to ensure that we continue to provide high-quality education and meet the evolving needs of our students and community.

Our primary goal this year is to enhance the educational experience for all our students by focusing on improving academic outcomes while also supporting their overall development. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where every student can thrive, follow their unique path, and grow into a respectful, caring, and lifelong learner who positively impacts the global community.

Construction Update

We are looking forward to the completion of our new federally funded learning spaces, which will offer our students wonderful new opportunities to explore and enjoy. However, due to the flooding that occurred in July, the construction that was originally planned to be completed by the beginning of school has been delayed by a few weeks. While these spaces are not quite ready yet, I want to extend a big thank you to our staff and administration for their proactive approach in responding to this challenge. Their creative solutions ensure that our students will continue to have engaging learning opportunities while we await the completion of these new facilities. We will continue to keep you informed about the progress of these spaces and appreciate your patience and understanding.

Enhancing Communication Efforts

To improve how we keep you informed and engaged this year, the District Office is stepping up our communication efforts. We will be sharing regular updates and introducing quarterly District newsletters to ensure you stay informed about key information. I encourage you to stay connected through our District’s website and Facebook page and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions, comments, or feedback. You can also use the "Connect With Us!" form.

Additionally, we’ve set aside time during staff meetings and in-service days to listen to your input, discuss your ideas, and keep you updated on the 2025-26 School Year Budget. The dates and times for these events are included below. We look forward to engaging with you!

Tuesday Connect: Open Office Hours with the Superintendent
I am excited to share that beginning Tuesday, September 10th, from 10:30-11:30am in the school conference room I will be holding office hours. This is a time to connect with me to provide feedback, share your thoughts, concerns, feelings, and input. I look forward to connecting with you and being more present in the school this year.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. Here’s to a successful and enriching school year ahead!

Sincerely,

Karen E. Conroy

Superintendent

Your input is invaluable as we begin crafting the School Year 2025-2026 (FY26) budget. We anticipate another challenging budget season, and it is important to us that your voices are heard in this process. This survey is designed to gather your feedback on areas where we can potentially save costs and understand what matters most to you and your work environment. Your insights will help us make informed decisions that balance financial constraints with the needs of our students and staff. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. This survey is anonymous but if you would like to share your thoughts with a response please use our new Connect With Us form and include your contact information. We look forward to engaging with you!

All employees should have received emails from Vector Solutions and Navigate360 (ALICE training) for their annual online training. These trainings must be completed by October 1, 2024. Hourly employees (non-exempt) will be paid for 6 hours at their regular hourly rate when all online training is completed outside of their normal work hours. Timesheets must be submitted to be paid for these additional hours.

Stipend contracts will be issued to employees in October.

Open enrollment for all insurance will be November 1st-15th, 2024. The effective date of the changes is January 1, 2025. This is the only time you can enroll or make changes to your coverage without having a life-changing event. Open enrollment is the only time domestic partners can be added to your insurance.

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

Important payroll documents can be found in the shared Google Drive. The folder also includes a brief Google Slideshow that provides simple examples of timesheets ready for submission to supervisors, information on understanding your pay stub, and how to access your pay stubs from the Employee Access Center (EAC). If you view the slideshow in presentation format, active links will bring you directly to the payroll folder, EAC, and federal tax resources.

Hourly employees should submit timesheets for Vector Training and ALICE (via Naviage360 site). Keep these training hours on a separate timesheet. The deadline to complete these trainings is October 1st. The timesheet is due on October 4th, with a pay date of October 18th.

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

We are pleased to announce that Teresa Gould has joined our team as the new CatCH Director, effective September 9, 2024. Many of you may already be familiar with Teresa through her active participation in our community and her involvement with our school.

Teresa brings a wealth of experience in advocacy and program management to this role. Her impressive background includes serving as a Victim Advocate with the Caledonia County State’s Attorney’s Office, a Legal Advocate at Umbrella, and a Program Director at Northeast Kingdom Human Services. Teresa earned her Master’s Degree in Organizational Management Leadership in 2016.

We are confident that Teresa’s dynamic energy, extensive professional network, and profound expertise will be invaluable assets to our program and allow us to uphold the program's tradition of excellence. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Teresa in her new role. Teresa can be contacted at Teresa.Gould@stjsd.org.

We are thrilled to welcome Vanessa Koch to our school district! Vanessa joined us full-time on July 1 and has already proven to be a fantastic addition to our leadership team. With a robust background in Human Resources from her previous role as Human Resource Director at Caledonia Central Supervisory Union, Vanessa brings a wealth of experience to our district. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Vanessa as she continues to make valuable contributions to our community.

We are excited to introduce Marc Brown as our new Facilities Coordinator, taking over for Patrick Campbell upon his retirement this fall. Marc comes to us with extensive knowledge in facilities management, strategic facility planning, construction, and safety. His vast expertise will be a tremendous asset to our district as we continue to enhance and maintain our facilities. Please join us in welcoming Marc to our team and in extending our gratitude to Patrick for his dedicated service over the years. Marc can be reached by email at Marc.Brown@stjsd.org.

We are pleased to announce that Charlotte Holt will be transitioning from her role as ESSER Grant Manager to our new Director of Operations and Compliance, effective October 1st. Charlotte brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this position, and we are confident she will excel in her new role.

In her new capacity, Charlotte will oversee a broad range of responsibilities, including:

• Financial Management: Ensuring sound cash management, effective controls for expenditures, and compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Operational Oversight: Reviewing and updating business office procedures and enhancing efficiency.
• Public Relations: Developing and managing district communication strategies and maintaining positive media relations.
• Grants Management: Assisting with federal grants, researching and applying for new grants, and ensuring compliance with all grant requirements.

Charlotte will be working to support our district’s goals and maintain our high standards of compliance and operational excellence. We look forward to her continued contributions and leadership as she embarks on this new chapter. Charlotte can be reached at (802) 745-2806 or Charlotte.Holt@stjsd.org.

Staff Highlight

We’re excited to share that our own Evan Jewell, a dedicated art teacher at St. Johnsbury School was featured in the Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, to showcase Evan’s profound passion for teaching and his commitment to showcasing student art.

Explore how Evan brings joy and inspiration to his students while teaching in rural Vermont, and learn about his innovative approach to integrating art with nature.

Discover more: Read the full article