The ANWSD/MAUSD merger study committee will be continuing its work on preparing events and materials to share with all our communities about the facts of the merger. We'll meet at VUHS in the library this week. Also online via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89645274786?pwd=R3JWTkFQZ3k2VERWWTd0Rk9TckxYUT09

Meeting ID: 896 4527 4786
Passcode: 2n58BR

We want to be sure that everyone knows the facts and the reasons behind our conclusion that pursuing a merger is better for our kids and community than continuing on our present separate paths, and how it offers opportunities for collaborations that are just not workable without having one unified district. (e.g. teachers with a district-wide contract can teach students in hybrid classes in different physical locations, which is unworkable if you have students in a different district than a teacher.)

We've looked at many of these questions and alternatives over the course of our study and work in the past year, and we want to share our experience with you in upcoming information sessions.

The public meetings like on Oct. 3rd are working sessions for the committee, where the public is invited to observe and offer comments to enforce transparency, but the rules don't allow us to answer questions or engage in conversations with members of the public in this meeting. However, we'll have some sessions that will be forums for questions and answers on October 18th at Mt. Abe and October 19th at VUHS, as well as on Nov. 1st (Location TBA). All of these meetings will begin at 6pm.

Also, you should know that if you want to vote on the merger you'll need to do so separately from the state ballots that are sent to registered voters because each town has its own ballots for the merger and for school board representation for the potential new ANSD.

The new board would have representatives from every town, so small towns have big voices in the debate, although in terms of voting the board will be set up to have as close to proportional voting as possible based on the populations of each town. Our guiding principle in determining the voting weights of the board members was to encourage equal representation by having "one person; one vote" throughout the district.

Here are instructions for voting on the merger and possible school board members:

To Vote:
Vote in person on election day, November 8 between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. at your municipal polling place

Vote early/absentee in person at your Town Clerk's Office or apply for your ballot:

Contact Your Town Clerk's Office. Find your Town Clerk's mailing address and email address at tinyurl.com/vtclerks.

Email, mail or bring this Paper form to your Town Clerk.

Request online at the Vermont Secretary of State's "My Voter Page."

(If these links don't work please follow this link to the original post: https://www.anwsd.org/anwsd-mausd-merger-study-committee.php)

Ballots cannot be automatically mailed with general election materials. Voters must request ballots or vote in person early or on November 8.

I'm looking forward to seeing my neighbors at all of these meetings! Happy October to everyone,
-Erica

Event Info

Nov 30, 2024, 9 to 10 AM

Dec 4, 2024, 4:30 to 7:30 PM

Dec 5, 2024, 4:30 to 8 PM