Dear RNESU Families and Staff,
As we wrap up the 2026-2027 school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on all that our students, staff, and community have accomplished together over the past 10 months.
This year has been filled with learning, growth, creativity, service, and countless moments that made us proud to be part of the RNESU community. Across our schools, students explored new ideas, developed new skills, performed on stage, competed in athletics, created artwork, conducted experiments, served their communities, and achieved personal milestones both large and small.
We celebrated student learning through events such as our school Celebrations of Learning, band and chorus concerts, the Big District Art Show, community service projects like Otter Valley’s Community Service Day, and many, many field trips. These experiences highlighted not only what our students know, but also their curiosity, creativity, resilience, and commitment to one another.
Our students continued to benefit from a wide range of opportunities, including career and technical education, dual enrollment and college coursework, the arts, athletics, outdoor education, leadership activities, and hands-on learning experiences. We remain committed to helping every student discover their interests and prepare for success in college, careers, and life.
As we celebrate the achievements of this year, we also extend our congratulations to the Class of 2026 - more than 80 graduates are heading out into the world, attending colleges and universities throughout New England and New York, as well as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and South Carolina. Many are entering the workforce, or starting apprenticeships and job training programs. We wish them all the success in what life has in store for them.
None of this would be possible without the dedication of our faculty and staff. Every day, our educators, support staff, administrators, transportation team, food service professionals, and facilities staff work tirelessly to create safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environments for our students. Their care and commitment make a lasting difference.
We also want to wish our district retirees the very best in their next chapters. Their contributions to our schools and community have left a lasting impact, and we thank them for all they have given throughout their careers:
Audrey Allaire, Lothrop School - 48 years
Kris Roberts, Otter Valley - 27 years
Bonita Litchfield, RNESU - 16 years
Susan Avery, Otter Valley - 5 years
Charles Connelly, Otter Valley - 5 years
An Update on Vermont's Education Bill, H.955
The end of our school year coincides with the end of Vermont’s legislative session. A very important bill affecting schools, school boards, towns, and taxpayers, H. 955, has cleared both the House and the Senate, and I feel like we need to make everyone aware before we start our summer. As a reminder, Rutland Northeast is home to Brigham v. State of Vermont — the 1997 Supreme Court decision that held that Vermont children are entitled to roughly equal educational opportunity regardless of their town's property wealth. Nearly 30 years later, the Legislature is once again rewriting how Vermont funds, governs, and organizes its schools, and the equity question at the heart of Brigham is still the engine driving the conversation.
Where things stand right now:
After a long and contentious session, the Legislature adjourned on Friday, May 29, 2026, passing the final compromise version of H.955 in both chambers. The House passed it 125–10, and the Senate passed it without a roll-call vote, with broad support from both parties.
As of early June, the bill is awaiting Governor Phil Scott's action. He has said he wants to read the final text closely before committing, but indicated he expects to sign it if it matches the deal he negotiated. So the practical picture is: this is very likely to become law, but it isn't formally signed yet.
What the bill actually does:
Here's the high-level summary:
No forced mergers — but a mandatory process. Every district will be required to participate in a study committee examining whether to merge, but the actual decision to merge remains with local voters. It's a mandatory process with a voluntary outcome.
A new regional layer: CESAs. The bill creates seven Cooperative Educational Service Areas to coordinate shared services across districts — things like special education, information technology, and administrative services. Think of a CESA like a regional co-op: instead of each small district running everything itself, neighbors pool resources, much like several towns might share one regional service rather than each maintaining a full operation alone.
A new funding formula ("foundation formula"). This replaces the current system with a model used in most states, in which funding is based on the number of students. The compromise moves it up to take effect in July 2029, a year earlier than the version of the bill proposed earlier. The analogy people use is a "backpack" of money: each student carries a base amount of funding, with extra added for students who need more support (for example, English language learners). This is the same equalizing instinct that Brigham set in motion.
Spending limits in the interim. Until the new formula arrives, the bill adds measures to limit district spending, paired with construction-aid incentives for districts that choose to consolidate.
The timeline to watch:
This fall (2026): Merger study committees begin meeting.
Town Meeting Day 2028: Districts vote on whether to merge.
July 2029: The new foundation funding formula takes effect.
Thank you for a wonderful school year. We wish you all a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable summer. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in the fall for another year of learning, growth, and opportunity.
Sincerely,
Rene Sanchez
Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union