On behalf of the Mt. Abraham School Board, I would like to thank the community of the 5 town area for their input on the proposed budget. The community has attended meetings, answered the postcard surveys and brought both thoughtful and difficult questions to the Board/Administration over the last month. On April 7th, we adopted and warned a new proposed budget to be brought before the voters on Tuesday, April 14th. An informational meeting will be held on Monday, April 13th at 5 p.m. in the small cafeteria. Please note that the meeting time is different so voters may also attend the Bristol/Monkton Elementary School's informational meetings being held later that evening. The new proposed budget may be found at www.anesu.org.

The replies from the postcard surveys and the comments made at our meetings over the last month regarding the failed March 3 proposed budget ranged from taxes being too high, to concerns regarding staff cuts and the overall increase to the budget being too much. The most significant challenges we faced were balancing the improvement of educational outcomes at an acceptable cost, the cost of education against the declining student population, and legislative constraints. In the current proposed operating budget for the FY 16 year, we believe we have found a balance to address student needs, community concerns and our obligations to the taxpayers of the 5 towns. The total Educational Expenses in the March budget were $14,058,551, in the newly proposed budget the Educational Expenses total $14,022,738 - a reduction of $35,813. This amount was specifically reduced from the SU assessment line. In March, the total staff reductions in the proposed budget were 10.29 FTE (full time equivalent) throughout programs. The current proposed budget includes a total staff reduction of 7.8 FTE throughout programs. The community spoke of concerns about staff changes in specific programs and the new budget reflects changes regarding those concerns. This budget also addresses our need for curriculum restructuring to improve current classes, improvement to the administrative model - a successful past model, an addition of a Director of School Counseling and an investment in the facility for maintenance, repairs and safety upgrades. We anticipate the improvements to the facility will offer us energy efficiencies and cost savings, both concerns we heard during recent discussion about facility improvement. The reductions made are a change and compromise for all involved, but we believe great things are happening now and will continue to happen at Mt. Abraham. Mt. Abraham has always had a commitment and a willingness to develop multiple learning opportunities for student success. I believe that as long as we continue to work together and value our school we are headed down the right path.

Please join us Monday, April 13th at 5 p.m. in the small cafeteria for our informational meeting and VOTE on Tuesday, April 14th, to support the students and their education here at Mt. Abraham.

Respectfully submitted, Dawn Griswold, Mt. Abraham Board Chair

Jan 13, 2025, 6:30 to 9 PM

Jan 14, 2025, 12:30 to 11 PM

Jan 15, 2025, 6 PM