Slate Valley Unified USD Budget DID NOT Pass: 789 yes to 1107 no
Dear Slate Valley,
I hope this message finds you well. We want to take a moment to update you on the recent school budget vote that, unfortunately, did not pass. The vote was 789 yes to 1107 no. The article transferring money to a reserve account was successful. We understand that this news may be disappointing for some of you, as it is for us.
The proposed budget primarily maintained level services, with a reduction in funding for the afterschool program as well as a redistribution of programming throughout the district. We understand this outcome may be disappointing, but we respect the democratic process and appreciate the community’s thoughtful participation.
Despite this setback, our commitment to providing the best possible education for our students remains unchanged. We will explore alternative solutions to meet student needs within our financial constraints. We value your input and encourage open dialogue as we navigate this challenge together.
In the coming weeks, we will hold board meetings to discuss the budget, gather feedback, and explore next steps. Your participation is essential, and we welcome your ideas and concerns.
Thank you for your continued support and collaboration as we work towards our shared goal of delivering exceptional education to our students.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Superintendent
🔍 Trivia Tuesday! 🔍 Do you know the 5 most common school mascots? 🤔 Do you think any of ours made the list? Drop your best guess in the comments before peeking at the answers!
Find out the top mascots here 👉 https://bit.ly/topschoolmascots
🗳️ Reminder: Today is Town Meeting Day! 🗳️
Make your voice heard—please get out and vote! Every vote counts! ✅
After a brief hiatus… WE’RE BACK!
Restarting Meet Slate Valley Faculty & Staff Mondays with this week’s feature: Sarah Winters!
Stay tuned as we once again spotlight the amazing educators and staff who make Slate Valley great! #WeAreSlateValley #MeetMondays
🏆 8th Grade Boys Basketball Wins Steve Marro Tournament! 🏀
On Saturday, our 8th grade boys' basketball team dominated the competition and claimed the championship at the Steve Marro Tournament at Proctor High School!
Congratulations to our players and coaches on an outstanding performance!
🏆 Historic Win for Slater Wrestling at VPA State Championships! 🤼♂️
The Slater wrestlers competed at the VPA Wrestling State Championships at Barre Auditorium, and freshman Cole Belden made history! As the #2 seed in the 120lb weight class, Cole battled his way to the championship round against the #1 seed from North Country. Down 8-4 heading into the final round, Cole staged an incredible comeback, scoring the last five points to become the first Slater freshman to ever win a state wrestling title! 🏅🔥
The success didn’t stop there!
🏆 Coach Matt Tuscano was named Vermont Wrestling Coach of the Year by the Vermont Coaches Association.
🏅 Gabe Bache received the Vermont Wrestling Sportsmanship Award, selected by the Vermont Wrestling Officials.
Congratulations to Cole, Coach Tuscano, Gabe, and the entire Slater wrestling program on an outstanding season!
🏀 Slater Girls' Basketball Earns #2 Seed – Home Playoff Game Tuesday! 🏀
The Slater girls' basketball team has secured the #2 seed in the Division II tournament and will host #15 Missisquoi Valley in the first round on Tuesday at 7 PM at FHU! Come out and support the team as they begin their playoff run!
🎟 VPA Playoff Ticket Prices:
Adults: $10
Students & Seniors: $5
🏟 Game Day Details:
Lobby doors open: 6:00 PM
Gym doors open: 6:30 PM
Season tickets are NOT valid for post-season games.
Season ticket holders & FHU players’ families can wait in the cafeteria and will get early gym entry before general admission.
📺 Can't make it in person? Watch live on the NFHS Network (subscription required): NFHS Network https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/
Let’s pack the gym and cheer on our lady Slaters!
Slaters Strike Gold at VPA Bowling Championship!
The Slater bowling team traveled to Sparetime Lanes in Colchester to compete in the highly anticipated VPA Bowling Championship. Entering as the #2 seed, FHU dominated #7 South Burlington with a 4-0 sweep in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, the Slaters showcased their resilience, battling back from a 3-1 deficit to edge out #3 Essex in a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory. That momentum carried into the championship round, where the Slaters stunned top-seeded Randolph with a 4-2 upset, securing the 2025 Vermont State Championship!
This marks the Slaters' fourth bowling state title since the program’s inception in 2016—the most of any Vermont school!
Congratulations to all our bowlers and coaches on another outstanding season!
Congratulations to the FHU Bowling Team on becoming Vermont state champions today in Colchester! The bus with our bowlers is scheduled to make a victory lap through town starting from Exit 5 in Castleton a little after 5 pm today. Congratulations to the entire team for their accomplishments this season!
Today, Ms. Clement's Ethnic Foods Class took their taste buds on a trip to the Caribbean! Students cooked up a delicious feast featuring crispy empanadas, flavorful chicken with beans and corn, and two mouthwatering desserts—pineapple upside-down cake and coconut lemon cake. Yum!
Sparks are flying in Design class! Students in Mr. VanderKern’s class tried their hand at soldering for the first time, gaining hands-on experience with this essential skill. One student even created a moving, lighted bug! Great work, future engineers and makers!
Congratulations to Fair Haven Union High School senior Caleb Foster! Caleb, a longtime member of the Middlebury Tigers hockey team, celebrated his senior night on Wednesday. Having played with the Tigers since he was little, this milestone is a testament to his dedication and hard work.
Tony Volpone, Talent Acquisition Partner at Casella Waste Management, visited Ms. LeBrun's Career Exploration class on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. He introduced students to various career opportunities available after graduation, including Diesel Technician Training and CDL Training through Casella’s Earn While You Learn program. Mr. Volpone also highlighted the company's benefits, career growth potential, and pathways for professional development.
Furry friends and big smiles! Caring Canines of Southern Vermont Dog Therapy is back at Fair Haven Union Middle and High School, bringing pawsitive vibes and stress relief to our students!
Thank you to everyone who attended last night's Slate Valley Community Connection event! Director of Curriculum, Mr. Casey O'Meara, and his team of PBL coaches shared valuable insights on instructional strategies, academic and behavioral support systems, assessments, and college and career readiness.
Yesterday, in Ms. LeBrun's Innovation & Entrepreneurship class, guest speaker Sue Cook from Horse Amour shared her experience in product development and marketing. She discussed her journey in creating and selling her organic Horse Bit Wipes, offering valuable insights into the process of bringing a product to market.
🏀 Division II Boys' Basketball Quarterfinal Game 🏀
The Slaters secured a big win last night, punching their ticket to the Quarterfinals!
Let’s keep the momentum going—come out and cheer them on!
📅 Friday, February 28th
📍 Otter Valley
⏰ Game Time: 7:00 PM
🎟 VPA Admission Pricing:
🔹 Adults: $10
🔹 Students: $5
🔹 Seniors: $5
🚪 Doors Open: 6:00 PM for admission
🏀 Gym Doors Open: 6:30 PM
Bring the energy and show your support!
Can't make it in person? 📺 Watch live on the NFHS Network!
https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/otter-valley-union-high-school-brandon-vt/gam8204a1f7cb
Please vote on March 4th! 🗳️ Not registered? No worries, it’s not too late—and it’s easy!
Register now: https://www.vote.org/register-to-vote/vermont/
Due to technical difficulties with our NFHS basketball broadcast please join us on our YouTube channel for tonight's game vs Missisquoi.
https://www.youtube.com/@FHUHSAthletics