We hope everyone had a wonderful Presidents Day weekend! This day reminds us to honor the leadership and contributions of those who have served our nation. February also marks Black History Month—a time to celebrate, reflect, and recognize the profound impact of Black individuals on our society, education system, and shared history. Their resilience, innovation, and pursuit of justice continue to inspire us.

Schools are more than places of learning; they are spaces where we nurture wisdom, unity, and understanding. Public education is the foundation of our democracy, ensuring every child, regardless of background, has the knowledge and opportunities to thrive. Investing in education is investing in our future, our communities, and the values we hold dear.

We appreciate everyone who joined the WCUUSD School Board Meeting on February 5th. At the meeting, we reviewed the FY26 School budget, which will be voted on in each town during Town Meeting Day on March 4th, 2025. You can find the full budget presentation here: https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1738689666/wcsu32org/bddo3ys6xnfphzz5uqdx/2525BoardP[...]pdf.

This budget focuses on academic excellence, safe and healthy schools, and equity. It ensures high-quality education for students while being financially responsible for the district and our communities.

As a reminder, in Vermont, education taxes (part of property taxes) are determined by a formula that includes two main factors at the local level 1. local education spending per student (pupil), which accounts for extra support needed by some students, and 2. the Common Level of Appraisal (CLA), which adjusts for differences between the town's assessed property value and actual market value.

For FY26, the local net education spending is $36,008,394, which is a 5.92% increase from FY25. This is a 6.2% increase in per-pupil spending, based on the state's weighted system.

While this budget is an increase from last year's budget (FY25), we worked to keep the increase as low as possible while maintaining high quality education. If we had continued all of FY25 budget commitments, the increase would have been 12.48% due to rising costs, like health care. To reduce this, the FY26 budget includes about $2.25 million worth of reductions from the cost of maintaining FY25 budget commitments, lowering the increase from 12.48% to 5.92%. The reductions include reduced WCUUSD staff, largely based on lower student enrollment and unfilled positions.

The other main part of the formula at the local level, the Common Level of Appraisal (CLA), affects how tax rates vary by town. Middlesex saw a small CLA drop, meaning taxes are expected to decrease by 2.4%. This equals about $49 less in taxes, per $100,000 house value. Note: these estimates are based on early state projections and may change.

Households that qualify for income-based property tax discounts will get a credit on their FY26 tax bill if their education taxes exceed a certain percentage of their 2024 income. The tax rate for eligible households ranges from 2% to 2.58%, depending on income and home value. Some may pay a mix of income and property taxes. For more details, check out: 2025 Property Tax Credit Calculator (https://tax.vermont.gov/press-release/2025-tax-filing-season-begins-jan-27-2025) and Guidance on how to file for a Property Tax Credit Claim (https://tax.vermont.gov/property/property-tax-credit).

WCUUSD is working hard to reduce costs while maintaining high-quality education, despite declining enrollment and rising costs. We are committed to working with our communities to develop a long-term plan for the District. The next meeting of our configuration committee wil be on February 19th at 5 pm. At U-32.

We appreciate your support and hope to see you at the polls in March! Ballots will not be mailed this year, so if you cannot vote in person, please request your ballot from the town clerk. If you have any questions, please:
attend one of the Coffee and Conversations with the Superintendent (the schedule is at the bottom of the district homepage: https://www.wcuusd.org/)
attend the next WCUUSD School Board Meeting on February 19th at 6:15 PM at U-32
come to the informational meeting on Monday, March 3 at 5:30 PM at U-32
reach out to a member of the WCUUSD School Board.

Thank you,
Your WCUUSD School Board

Event Info

Feb 21, 2025, 8 to 9:30 PM

Feb 22, 2025, 9 to 10 AM

Feb 27, 2025, 6 PM