Principal Search Comm.

Members Are Chosen

The Tunbridge School Board has chosen three community members for the Principal Search Committee—Pete Howe, Robyn Rogers, and Kathi Terami, Board Chair Jennifer Hayslett said this week.

"Our primary goal in choosing a committee was to achieve a balance of people to represent a variety of view points, including having children of varying ages," she explained.

The teachers have chosen four members of the teaching staff to sit on the committee—Amy Bogardus, Karen Colby, John Duffy, and Marilyn Lyford. Tracy Vesper will represent staff members.

In addition, members of the school board will be attending the next staff meeting to hear from all of the teachers about their thoughts on what they see as important qualities for the next Tunbridge principal.

The committee will begin meetings next Thursday, April 17. The first meeting will be to create a plan and to share the board’s wishes for a new principal, as well as sharing the information gathered from community members.

"If you have ideas about this, we want to hear from you," Hayslett said.

"Please feel free to contact any members of the committee named above, or any school board member, to share your thoughts about what traits you think our next school leader should possess."

Other Committees

At Town Meeting, the school board passed around sign-up sheets for three committees: transportation, building maintenance, and declining enrollment.

The purpose of these committees is to bring a deeper perspective and level of expertise to some complex issues facing the school board.

The transportation committee will be looking at the school bus routes, the plan for work on busses, as well as the larger issue of whether the town should continue to bus our students.

The building committee will offer expertise on such issues as window replacement and roof materials.

The declining enrollment committee will explore ways in which towns throughout Vermont have been facing statewide school population decline.

Hayslett thanked all who have signed up for these committees.

"We have gotten a later start getting these going than we originally anticipated as a result of the principal search," she noted.

The board is also beginning the process of negotiating with the teachers to establish their next three-year contract. This has meant that the board has sometimes had to meet two or three times a week.

To sign up for the transportation, school maintenance, or declining enrollment committee, or if you have any questions or concerns, email Hayslett at:

jhayslett@vermontlaw.edu or call 889-9479.