District Communications
District communications including weekly updates, COVID-19 & more.
District Updates 12.9.21 – Winter bus, COVID and more
District Updates 11.18.2021 – SRO report, clinic updates and more
District Updates 12.2.21
Superintendent McMannon Statement on Discriminatory ELL Funding Proposal
December 1, 2021
Winooski School District Superintendent Sean McMannon issued the following statement in response to a legislative proposal that would remove English language learners (ELL) from the equity formula, funding their education with grants instead:
“By choosing to separate/segregate ELL funding from the rest of the formula, and intentionally setting the amount at substantially less than empirical analysis says it should be, I believe this proposal results in discrimination against ELL students on the basis of national origin and language. As the court in Brown vs Board of Education said: “To separate students from others of similar age and qualifications solely because of their race generates a feeling of inferiority as to their status in the community that may affect their hearts and minds in a way unlikely ever to be undone.” Brown, 347 U.S. at 494. This is as true for funding schemes as it is for where students are physically educated.
Thanks to the thorough research conducted by the University of Vermont and Rutgers University in the Pupil Weighting Factors Report of 2019, we now know that we have an inequitable school funding system that causes harm to students and families who reside in districts with high percentages of poverty and with multilingual or English language learning needs. As the Pupil Weighting Factors Report clearly indicates, the current funding weights are not keeping up with the needs of our students, and do not reflect the actual costs we incorporate into our school budget. As a result, Winooski and many other districts do not have the same opportunities as students in wealthier, more homogenous districts.
In 1997, in Brigham v. State, the Vermont Supreme Court concluded that the State constitution requires the provision of substantially equal educational opportunity to all students. The court declared the state’s education funding system unconstitutional because it resulted in wide disparities in per-pupil expenditures.
I am asking the legislative task force charged with addressing this issue to get back in the lane of which they were charged and to create a plan to implement the report’s recommendations to correct the pupil weights. Should you continue to favor your model of categorical aid and weights over the empirically-based recommendations of the report authors, I fear your current position is not in compliance with current law and could represent continued harm to our most vulnerable students and families.”
Weekly Updates 11.4.21
Walk To School Day
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 Winooski School District celebrates fit and healthy students with a walk-to-school activity for all ages. WALK BEGINS AT 7:40 AM LOCATION: WALGREENS (321 Main St.) PARKING LOT Teachers and school staff will be in the parking lot of the...
Friday, September 22, 2023
Job Opening-IA
Job Openings - Instructional Assistants Winooski School District The Winooski School District is seeking Instructional Assistants to work with students with disabilities to provide academic support as well as behavior/emotional support. There are multiple positions to...
Friday, September 8, 2023
Friday, September 1, 2023
Water Safety
Vermont has so many swimming pools, lakes and rivers. When it is hot outside you might want to go to the swimming pool, a lake or river with your family to stay cool and maybe swim. Here is some advice to stay safe when you are by the water or choose to go swimming....
Friday, June 9, 2023
Friday, May 26, 2023
End of the School Year Events 22/23
Transition to Middle School When: Thursday, May 25th at 5:30 PM Where: Middle School East Commons Who: All current 5th-grade students and families WMHS Band, Chorus, and Band Pops Concert When: Thursday, June 1st at 7:00 PM Where: WSD Performing Arts Center Who: Open...
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