Areas of Investment

ARTS PROGRAMS

Performing Arts Center:…….$2,300,000
Band Room:………………………$50,000
Choir Room:………………………$75,000

LIBRARY

Renovation:………………………$675,000
New bookshelves:…………….$2,500

We are excited to offer our donors the opportunity to name the spaces in our school to honor members of their families, local businesses, or community organizations.

When you invest in the Winooski School District (WSD) Capital Project you support:

A Sustainable and Vibrant Vermont Economy

According to the Vermont Futures Project, “Today Vermont is at a tipping point, after which challenging conditions may worsen to a crisis. The first sign is in workforce supply. The number of workers has been flat and beginning to decline.”

However, the city of Winooski is thriving, with a growing population of young professionals and families, and plenty of businesses to support the influx of new consumers.

School enrollment around the state continues to decline, while Winooski School District’s is projected to increase. One reason can definitely be attributed to the city’s robust immigrant population. Just as immigrants in the late 19th-century moved to Winooski for steady work in the mills, families now move to Winooski for economic stability and the chance to build a better life in America.

And in turn, middle-class white families move to Winooski for the celebrated diversity. One family, who moved from Montpelier two years ago after they’d adopted a Black child, chose Winooski because it felt like a place their family would feel more at home. They credit these videos on the WSD website as convincing them to make the move.

Still other recent transplants to Winooski cite the walkability and vibrant restaurant scene as part of the draw.

With municipal projects like the new pool and Main Street revitalization, Winooski is booming, and a model of what the future of America can look like. By creating a partnership with Winooski School District, your foundation will help to support this hard-working, multicultural, creative and innovative place where people of all backgrounds come together united by a sense of community and opportunity.

Social Justice

While great strides have been made to shore up inequities in public education, even in our small state the differences between wealthy and poor districts are quite stark. By investing in the students of Winooski, you are helping to even out the playing field so that all students can access quality education.

WSD is the only “minority-majority” district in Vermont. Winooski students come from 25 countries and speak 19 languages. Many are refugees in America, seeking a better life and new opportunities in our country. Some were forced to flee their homes – destroyed by war, fearing for their lives. WSD welcomes every student who enters our doors, but resources are spread thin. Help us provide Winooski students the same opportunities to succeed as their white, native-born Vermont peers in wealthier districts.

Equity

Winooski has one of the lowest median household incomes in Vermont. Many families are still worn down by their city’s reputation of inferiority, despite the up-and-coming renaissance Winooski is currently enjoying. In years past, “I wouldn’t send my kid to school in Winooski” was a commonly-heard refrain from middle-and-upper middle-class Vermonters. Currently, the district has a stellar reputation among educators around the state for being a leader in proficiency-based learning and building a culture that focuses on the whole child. The district has three Rowland fellows and has received a $500,000 grant from the Barr Foundation to expand the learning ecosystem. Despite the investment from selective funders who recognize the excellence at WSD, per-pupil spending continues to lag and faculty salaries are nearly $20k lower on average than in other Chittenden County districts.

Your gift will be used wisely

The Winooski School District (WSD) Capital Project is still in its early phase. The project has significant community support, as is evidenced by the passing of a $57.8 M bond. Thanks to the generosity of the citizens of Winooski, the funds for the project, which is uncompromising in its vision of wellness, learning, and engagement are secure. It’s a great start, but we need to raise additional funds to ensure decades of quality educational opportunity. Your gift will join in this partnership, and boldly demonstrate your commitment to a future where Vermont is leading the way in equity and innovation with a strong economy.