The Stowe School District, Elmore-Morristown
Unified Union, and Lamoille South boards met to continue their work on our Act
46 Alternative Governance Structure self-study. The boards reviewed the tax
implications of both voluntary and forced governance mergers, reconfirming that
any merger would present little to no tax benefit to either district and a
likely eventual increase in Stowe’s homestead tax rate. This confirms that the
boards are on the fiscally responsible path by seeking an Alternative Governance
Structure that would maintain two separate districts under one supervisory
union.
There
are two important upcoming meetings, during which the boards will seek input
from both communities regarding a draft of the Alternative Governance Structure
proposal that will eventually go to the State Board of Education. On Monday,
September 25, at 6:00 PM, the boards will meet at Stowe High School, and on
Tuesday, September 26, at 6:00 PM, the boards will meet at Peoples Academy. A
draft of the Alternative Governance Structure proposal--our districts’ response
to Act 46--will be available several days in advance of these meetings. We
encourage members of the community to read this draft and then attend a meeting
to give feedback. Community response is crucial to our response to Act 46, and
these meetings will allow the board to hear what community members think.
Below,
please find the schedule of upcoming Act 46 meetings, which has been revised:
●
Wednesday, September 13, 6:00.
Stowe Elementary School Music Room
●
Monday, September 25, 6:00. Stowe
High School Auditorium
Community Engagement Meeting -- PLEASE
ATTEND
●
Tuesday, September 26, 6:00.
Peoples Academy Auditorium
Community Engagement Meeting -- PLEASE ATTEND
●
Tuesday, October 24, 6:00.
Morristown Elementary School Library
●
Wednesday, November 15, 6:00.
Stowe Elementary School Music Room