[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6394368,"mediaKeyId","2103115-be323d7495203d770b92f9b4d09fb604","parentId",2103115,"title","Berry City music teacher and residents urge restoration of $3,750 band/chorus supply line as board debates using FY24 surplus to reduce FY26 increase","audioSeconds",2439,"startMs",1014000,"endMs",3453000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2103115-be323d7495203d770b92f9b4d09fb604&start=1014&end=3453","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2103115-be323d7495203d770b92f9b4d09fb604/thumbnail_1014000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6394368/Vermont/Berry-City-music-teacher-and-residents-urge-restoration-of-3750-bandchorus-supply-line-as-board-debates-using-FY24-surplus-to-reduce-FY26-increase","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394368-f0340b9c3444ee89dba90554291f98d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770836961&Signature=i6Ax~ms~MehRVRRk4xlwGN6ijCRjXAdjkj9jLB9FRrJtwrXNZPMisb9cOHravJAYK-i65Ey64YP42DF6JDtDndfiCf8AU3IqUOQNNkmRnhL0dFy85d-7QlSLgWWacjVm9IHxVrnx11LbHfoXhkTrWtWRNv8YreVN53Ax9sYc0cx8OxK6UVSU7lNYqIoMwkB31U~mPK-RUgBqF8DNHwrf4ThV0DAQOCOwVr~15AI1rVDYzsXIqSEmgdk~ymS6egNpOiiopd71gISDXj8t12eYohKCduyEGV8RoMZJdmHD949SjYvAiCH1BOgtsMifwIwBgF-d1rdMYW3RTiqlE412IA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Barre Unified Union School District, VT","date","2025-01-11T14:00:58.5Z","article","Andrea, a Berry City middle school music teacher, told the Barre Unified Union School District #97 board that a proposed $3,750 cut to her program would prevent the department from buying reeds and replacing or repairing instruments, and would reduce students’ access to concerts and festival travel.

“Music classes also teach and reinforce perseverance, commitment, dedication, and collaboration,” Andrea said during public comment, adding that ensembles provide performance and civic visibility for students. Garrett White, a Berry City resident and substitute teacher, and several other residents and parents echoed that position, describing music and arts as key opportunities for students who are not involved in sports.

The board spent more than an hour discussing the FY26 budget outline, surpluses revealed by the recent audit, and staffing and program priorities. Board members and administrators described a roughly $700,000–$800,000 surplus from fiscal year 2024, a capital-reserve account, and a growing cafeteria fund. The board’s discussion included a proposal from board member Terry Roehl to replace the district’s 5.14% proposed budget increase with a 4% increase and to apply $700,000 already planned for tax stabilization plus the FY24 surplus (roughly $797,890.88 as stated in the meeting) against FY26 revenues to reduce the local tax burden.

No formal vote on the FY26 budget was held at the meeting. Board members emphasized competing priorities: several said they wanted to lower the budget increase to respond to community affordability concerns, while others warned that using one-time reserves to reduce recurring operating costs would put the district at risk in future years. Lisa (district staff member) explained that some of the surplus reflected unfilled positions (which she estimated at about $400,000) and changes in special education reimbursements; she also noted restrictions on some reserve accounts (for example, the cafeteria fund is restricted to food-service uses and related capital purchases).

Board members and residents raised additional details about the budget: Garrett noted large state-driven cost increases such as an 11.9% health insurance premium increase and other unfunded mandates; Nancy (board member) asked for a clear five-year capital plan to show how capital-reserve money would be spent; several members requested a clearer line-item accounting to identify where small supply requests (like the $3,750 for music) might be restored without raising the overall increase. Some trustees argued the district has historically ended years with large fund balances and that the board should consider a formal policy on an appropriate reserve percentage and how surplus funds are returned to taxpayers.

The meeting closed the budget discussion by asking administration to prepare written scenarios: (1) what a 4% budget would look like with the proposed use of FY24 surplus and the planned $700,000 tax-stabilization revenue; (2) a clearer inventory and five-year capital plan for planned capital spending; and (3) itemized detail on unfilled positions and proposed cuts, so the board can review concrete trade-offs at the next meeting.

The board did not adopt or pass the FY26 budget at the meeting; a formal vote was not on the agenda for this session.

The district will continue budget work at upcoming meetings; board members asked for the superintendent’s office to return a written budget scenario reflecting the 4% proposal and the revenue offsets discussed so the board can consider whether to move forward with that approach.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BUUSD Board Meeting - January 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Andrea, a Berry City middle school music teacher, told the Barre Unified Union School District #97 board that a proposed $3,750 cut to her program would prevent necessary supplies and repairs and reduce student access to performances.","taxTitle","Barre Unified Union School District #97, School Districts, Vermont","taxId",67875,"location","Vermont","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394363,"Board names search committee and outlines timeline for superintendent search; consultant to run focus groups",556,7441000,7997000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2103115-be323d7495203d770b92f9b4d09fb604&start=7441&end=7997","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2103115-be323d7495203d770b92f9b4d09fb604/thumbnail_7441000.jpg","/articles/6394363/Vermont/Board-names-search-committee-and-outlines-timeline-for-superintendent-search-consultant-to-run-focus-groups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394363-616d2058159e25c2f54d88c7e88f1484/orig.mp4?Expires=1770836961&Signature=FkZY8ivJzMz981CAh2K9fi4HcDfZu6tPwkUWigKS8vMVtHILKbOxnK7RK-gBF4GlsGQVbPLa0RicLYKwwzRQxDlWi0hF4asKcFbT6~jmn7POQE6-3LrmMQUT4ca~98EwCykdV3hq5ijTnLmckfQGw-xPpr7M~6DFr2UvGNlNoxy80FQTy9FpL5vCdarW4I7jMOf54l~y-reFmA-8OG04CWvk1gvBPRxTVGDix-108wflp4MjncaF3eUteCFXRj7wooyQ405wKF8GpjD50cfUr060HG9BPXPD1MNeBjkxf0povxZNgyWFy4P2sl7NcTiOyCuN2jDKYyy6rUMa0pc9Iw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Barre Unified Union School District #97 board voted to create a superintendent search committee and heard a timeline and process from a consultant working on the search.

Consultant Dave (last name not specified in the transcript) briefed the board on a roughly 120-day timetable to hire a superintendent, recommending outreach beginning in mid-January, a series of community focus groups and an online survey to build a candidate profile, a screened shortlist produced by a screening committee, and final interviews by the full board. Dave said the usual cycle includes a liaison from the board who serves as the consultant’s primary contact and helps shepherd application materials, postings and logistics.

The board approved a motion to appoint a search committee composed of board members Alice Ferrell, Catherine Whelan, Garrett Grant and Giuliano Czaknoy to serve as the screening group. The motion was made by Giuliano and seconded by Catherine; the motion carried by voice vote.

Dave described recommended next steps: select a single liaison (from the search committee members) to be the consultant’s primary contact, decide whether to run four focus groups (the consultant’s recommended number) with a mix of in-person and remote sessions, approve an application letter and candidate profile drawn from focus-group feedback, and recruit a screening committee of community and staff representatives (the consultant suggested a screening group of roughly nine to 12 people to get balanced representation). He also noted the board must keep screening activity confidential until finalists are advanced, and he offered to return to the board on March 20 to train and work with the screening committee.

Board members agreed the four-person committee could select a liaison and asked the new committee to pick a liaison and get back to Dave quickly so the consultant could meet the outreach timeline. The board set a goal — in the consultant’s timeline — to make a hire by early May (May 5 target) and requested the superintendent-search materials be posted on the district website so the public can follow the timeline and participate in surveys and focus groups.

A final motion to adjourn passed later in the meeting.","Barre Unified Union School District #97 agreed to form a superintendent search committee and discussed timeline and next steps; consultant Dave presented a plan and asked the board to select a liaison and focus-group plan","actionData","errors"]

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Berry City music teacher and residents urge restoration of $3,750 band/chorus supply line as board debates using FY24 surplus to reduce FY26 increase

Board names search committee and outlines timeline for superintendent search; consultant to run focus groups