Vermont School Boards Association's Podcasts: Recent Episodes
Kerri Lamb
The Vermont School Boards Association envisions a state where every student has access to and is engaged in a world-class public education, where local boards provide student-focused oversight of education systems, and where educators, families, and communities are engaged partners, ensuring that the futures of all Vermont children are driven by their aspirations, not bound by their circumstances.
Recorded 8/30/22
VSBA Executive Director and Attorney Sue Ceglowski will present an in-depth review of Robert's Rules of Order and parliamentary procedures that help school board meetings run efficiently, effectively and legally.
Recorded 2/3/22
If you or your board struggle with making sure your communities understand the board’s role and positions, this webinar is for you! We’ll discuss the how, when, where and why of effective public facing communication. We’ll also explore best practices of board member communication with the public, and the impact of Open Meeting Law on board communication.
On December 17, 2021, the Task Force on the Implementation of Pupil Weighting Factors Report issued its final report to the General Assembly. This webinar will provide information on the recommendations and decision points in the final report. There will be time set aside for questions. Panelists are: Representative Emilie Kornheiser (Co-Chair of the Task Force), Brad James (Agency of Education Finance Manager) and Dr. Tammy Kolbe (Co-Author of the Pupil Weighting Factors Report).
This webinar provides school boards and administrators with tools to help effectively manage public comment periods during school board meetings by balancing the rights to free speech and expression with civil and safe board operations. Many boards in Vermont, and indeed across the country, are experiencing an increase in public engagement. On occasion this has included expressions of anger, disruption, and in some cases threatening conduct. This webinar seeks to provide practical advice and guidance on how to manage contentious public comment sessions with strategies for how to respond when members of the public are disruptive. Speakers on this panel include state legal, educational, behavioral, and public safety experts.
Do you know this valuable tool is available to you as members of VSBA? If your SU/SD has subscribed to it you can find any contract statewide in the database. You can search by many items such as type of contract i.e teacher, support, maintenance, office staff, administrator, non union or even find fact finder reports.
Tune in to learn more about the contract database and the data we collect which can be very useful preparing for negotiations.
Geo Honigford has served on the Royalton School Board since 2005, and on the executive committee of the Orange Windsor Supervisory Union since 2009. He is a strong believer in the public school system and potential that it can bring to children’s lives. He considers his biggest accomplishments on the boards to be a building addition, the start of collaborative bargaining with the teachers association, and closer cooperation between the various schools in the supervisory union.
He started and runs a successful organic vegetable and hay farm. In past careers he has taught high school, been a park ranger, and spent two years in the Peace Corps in West Africa. In addition to sitting on the various school boards he has also been on the board of the White River Partnership for 16 years.
He and his wife, Sharon O’Connor, have two daughters that attend South Royalton High School.
Leon Johnson is the vice chair of the Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington. He is also the vice chair of the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union. Mr. Johnson also serves on the Southwest Regional Technical Center Board.
He has been on a school board in the Bennington area since 1993. Mr. Johnson represents the minorities of his community. He works as a liaison with minority parents and the school administrators.
Flor Diaz-Smith is the vice chairperson of the Washington Central UUSD board and a former VSBA Board Member.
David Chandler is the clerk of the Taconic & Green School Board and the vice chair of the Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union. He is also the VSBA Bennington Regional Representative.
In Vermont, the most important function of school boards is the development of policy - a powerful tool for the exercise of educational leadership. You will learn about the process for developing, adopting and monitoring school policy.
School board work means providing excellent educational opportunities for all students and a good return on taxpayers' investment. One of the most commonly asked questions - and one of the hardest to answer - is“How are we doing?” Monitoring district (and board) performance is critical. Join VSBA and other school board members from around the state as we discuss some options for monitoring student outcomes, financial oversight, and progress toward the board's goals.