Mark your calendars for Tuesday, April 9, 2024 and join us for another Parent Information Event called: After High School Opportunities for Students with Disabilities
This event is Virtual Online Only, Join by going to:
https://meet.google.com/yrx-emty-vwc?authuser=0
Good Afternoon,
While conditions are improving at Fair Union Middle/High School they have not improved to the level they need to resume occupancy of the building. As a result FHUMHS will be closed through Friday, April 5th. Please be assured we are working as quickly and carefully to address the situation at Fair Haven Union Middle & High School (FHUMHS). We are working closely with experts in the field and state officials. Safety is our number one priority.
Remote days are not an option; those went away after the pandemic. Additionally, we still do not have access to the building to get student or staff materials. A lot of the legal flexibility to educate students went away after the pandemic. 51% of our students must physically be in the school building per the law for it to count as a school day. For those who are interested the legal citation is: 16 V.S.A. 1071(a)(1) “For purposes of this section, a majority of students enrolled in a school must be recorded on the school roll as in attendance on any day counted as a student attendance day.” That requirement has not been expanded to include all-school attendance through remote means.
I am requesting a waiver for the missed days from the Agency of Education. The state requires students in attendance for 175 days. With the cancellation of school this week it brings our total to 174 student days.
We are optimistic that the situation will continue to improve over the next couple of days. If the situation persists into next week we will reassess our plan which would likely add days to the end of the school year. Again, I will keep you updated as I have more information. Thank you for your patience, understanding and flexibility in this matter.
As with the previous days, the Stafford Bus will run as scheduled.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Happy Instructional Assistant's Day! Today, and everyday, the Slate Valley community is grateful for your contributions to our district! The connections you create while helping our students learn is invalualbe. Your patience promotes progress, you enable confidence and coordinate the chaos around our students to facilitate success. You are most definitely our behind the scene superheros! Thank you!
NOTICE:
Good Morning,
I know this is a difficult situation for all involved. Please be assured we are working as quickly and carefully to address the situation at Fair Haven Union Middle & High School (FHUMHS). School at FHUMHS will be closed again on Wednesday, April 3rd. Right now it is day to day as we need to ensure air quality has returned to the appropriate level throughout the building. Safety is our number one priority.
Remote days are not an option; those went away after the pandemic. Additionally, we still do not have access to the building to get student or staff materials. A lot of the legal flexibility that was available to schools during COVID no longer exists.
I am requesting a waiver for the missed days from the Agency of Education. The state requires students in attendance for 175 days. In Slate Valley, we have students in attendance for 180 days per our policies and contractual agreements. Therefore, we do have some wiggle room if we are granted the waiver.
Again, I will keep you updated as I have more information. Thank you for your patience, understanding and flexibility in this matter.
As with the previous days, the Stafford Bus will run as scheduled.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
UPDATE & IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Due to the continued situation at the Fair Haven Union Middle and High School, the building will remain closed for tomorrow, Tuesday, April 2nd. Therefore there will be no school tomorrow for the Middle and High School.
PLEASE NOTE: STAFFORD BUSSES WILL RUN AS SCHEDULED
We have experts on the scene, and will provide updates as we receive them. Again, the building will remain closed to everyone at this time.
ATTENTION: PLEASE READ
Good Morning,
I wanted to update you on the situation at Fair Haven Union Middle/High School that caused the closure of the building today. There was a break in the fuel oil line that supplies fuel to the boilers and upwards of 500 gallons of fuel oil leaked into the utility tunnels under the building and the boiler room. The fuel oil also drained into a sump pump in the boiler room and made its way into the sewer system. We have contracted with a hazardous waste company and reached out to the appropriate state officials. This is an ongoing situation and I will update you as more information is available. The building is closed to all at this time.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
Available to every student, every morning!
Reminder: Tomorrow night, March 26th, is the second of the two parent information nights. Hope to see you there! You can join by going to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvcuqrpjIpGtAY4HTzgYaN9dzPc4H1C33J
New Podcast: View at https://bit.ly/SVBudgetRevote
In this episode Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell talks with School Board Chair, Patricia Beaumont, and Board Finance Committee Chair, Glen Cousineau about the revised FY25 Budget Proposal that will be put forth to voters on April 11, 2024. They discuss various topics from why the board chose this revised budget option, and they attempt to answer some common questions being asked from their serving community.
Summer in Slate Valley! Hosted by Boys & Girls Club
Tonight - March 18, 2024
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Special Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library. This meeting will be in person. You can virtually connect by going to: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wnq-fgob-uwu Or dial: (US) +1 803-250-5816 PIN: 801 211 859#
Please note: To participate in conversation virtually and/or ask a question virtually, please use the “raise hand” icon in Google Meet. Typing responses or questions in chat is not an option.
It's a Slate Valley Teacher In-Service Day! Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell and guest speaker Jackie Wilson, greet faculty and staff who gathered this morning for a quick introduction to agenda items and work they will be focusing on for the day. Everyone then dispersed into smaller groups for more in depth training.
Monday Night - March 18, 2024
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Special Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library. This meeting will be in person. You can virtually connect by going to: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wnq-fgob-uwu Or dial: (US) +1 803-250-5816 PIN: 801 211 859#
Please note: To participate in conversation virtually and/or ask a question virtually, please use the “raise hand” icon in Google Meet. Typing responses or questions in chat is not an option.
Reminder: Tomorrow night, March 12th, is the first of two parent information nights. Hope to see you there! You can join by going to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvcuGorzMiEtVRUZIiGrqd2Sd8UdoeXDNc
Tonight - March 11, 2024
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the Fair Haven Union Middle & High School Library. This meeting will be in person. You can virtually connect by going to: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xau-equi-ako Or dial: (US) +1 484-424-5323 PIN: 683 665 442#
Message from Superintendent Brooke Olsen-Farrell:
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 1004 yes and 1468 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 aimed to address critical needs and enhance the overall educational experience for our students. We appreciate the thoughtful consideration that went into the decision-making process by those who participated in the vote. While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, we respect and acknowledge the democratic nature of our community.
Our top priority remains providing the best possible education for our students, and we will continue to work diligently to find alternative solutions in light of the budget failure. This setback challenges us to reassess our priorities and explore creative ways to meet the needs of our students within the financial constraints we face.
We encourage open dialogue and welcome any suggestions or concerns you may have. Your input is invaluable, and we believe that together, as a united community, we can navigate through these challenges and find solutions that benefit our students and the entire school community.
In the coming weeks, we will hold board meetings to discuss the budget failure, gather feedback, and explore potential options moving forward. Your participation and engagement are crucial during this process, and we encourage you to attend these meetings to share your thoughts and ideas.
We remain committed to transparency and collaboration as we work towards a shared goal of providing an exceptional education for our students. Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to working together to overcome this challenge.
Sincerely,
Brooke Olsen-Farrell
New Superintendent's Podcast: First of our School Series - Discussion with FHUMHS Co-Principal Mr. Ben Worthing. View at https://youtu.be/uBnf-6Q4PsA
It's Town Meeting Day! Please exercise your right to VOTE!
Polling Places and Hours:
Benson: 10 am - 7 pm, Benson Community Hall
Castleton: 8 am - 7 pm, Castleton Fire Station
Fair Haven: 10 am - 7 pm, American Legion Post #49
Hubbardton: 10 am - 7 pm, Hubbardton Town Hall
Orwell: 10 am - 7 pm, Orwell Town Hall
West Haven: 10 am - 7 pm, Buckley Memorial Community Hall
The FHU Music and Art programs are happy to announce our first B.E.A.T night happening this Thursday, March 7th, from 7 PM to 9 PM.
This event will include:
Baked Goods &Beverages
Entertainment (mini games with prizes)
Art sale and gallery
and Music performed by FHU students!
Come and enjoy some family time, connect with the community, have some great food, play some games, see some art, and listen to wonderful music! It is a fun night out for all ages!
FREE to enter- donations are appreciated!
