Election Set: Tuesday, August 11th. Request your Ballot by Contacting your Town Clerk: Vote to APPROVE!

Sustainable Schools Coalition:

Building a Sustainable Future: All Voices, One District

Who We Are

We are parents, caregivers, residents, and community members who want to help build a strong future for public education across the entire Washington Central Unified Union School District (WCUUSD).

What We Believe

Background:

WCUUSD operates as a unified district with a shared budget, shared staffing structure, and shared educational responsibilities. Decisions about school configuration, facilities, and staffing therefore affect students and taxpayers across all five district towns.

In 2026, several administrative decisions have underscored this reality. For example, the PreK–K program in Calais was combined with the PreK–K program at EMES, and Rumney and Doty classes have been blended across the two schools. In practice, these arrangements function as combined schools operating across multiple locations.

As a district community, we may decide that we want to continue with this distributed model, or we may determine that a model with combined schools housed in a single building would better serve students and taxpayers. We at the Sustainable Schools Coalition believe that the entire district should participate in this important discussion.

Our Core Principle: Shared Impact, Shared Voice

Currently, the WCUUSD Articles of Agreement do not fully reflect our unified status or allow us to make decisions as a whole district.

The Fix: To update our Articles of Agreement so that any future school closure requires a district-wide vote via Australian ballot in a warned election.
The Why: This ensures that major shifts have a broad community mandate, fostering fairness and collective responsibility across all five towns.

What We Stand For

Educational Excellence: Every student—regardless of which town they live in—deserves equitable access to robust academic programs, intervention services, and modern learning environments.
Stability for Families: Families and educators need predictable, long-term planning rather than year-to-year uncertainty that is dependent on shifting enrollments.
Stability for Educators, Support Staff, and Administration: Predictability in our school communities creates continuity for our educators, support staff, and administration. This helps ensure we retain and attract the best educators for our children.
Data-Informed Solutions: We advocate for transparency in district finances and enrollment data to drive calm, rational decision-making.
Respectful Dialogue: We believe important changes can be discussed thoughtfully without creating division between neighbors.

The Latest

On June 15, 2026, the Sustainable Schools Coalition submitted a petition signed by more than 450 community members proposing an amendment to the WCUUSD Articles of Agreement that would give all district voters a voice in future school closure decisions. The petition exceeded the signature threshold required under Vermont law, was certified by the District Clerk, and was formally considered by the School Board on June 17. After initially voting against warning an election as required under Vermont law, the Board met again on July 8 and voted to hold a district-wide election on Tuesday, August 11, alongside Vermont's statewide primary election.

The Ballot Question:

District voters will be asked one question: Should the WCUUSD Articles of Agreement be amended so that all five district towns vote on future proposals to close schools? A yes vote would amend the current Articles of Agreement so that all 5 district towns would vote on any such proposals moving forward.

How to vote:

Election Day is Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
- Calais, East Montpelier and Middlesex Voters: Polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM
- Berlin Voters: Polls are open from 8 AM to 7 PM
- Worcester Voters: Polls are open from 10 AM to 7 PM
Early voting ballots will be available as of July 22nd through your Town Clerk's office
Absentee/mail-in voting:
- If you requested an absentee ballot for the August primary before the WCUUSD ballot question was set—even if you've already returned it—you will automatically receive a separate WCUUSD Special Election ballot. You can return it by mail, place it in your town's secure ballot drop box, or bring it to your polling place on Election Day.
- If you have not already requested an absentee/mail-in ballot but would like to, please do so through your town clerk or through the Vermont Secretary of State's website "My Voter Page" at http://vote.vermont.gov.

Why this matters:

The Sustainable Schools Coalition organized this petition effort after speaking with hundreds of residents across the district. We are a parent-led group of district residents who believe our school district should have every tool available to thoughtfully address the significant challenges facing public education in Vermont.

This amendment does not decide whether any school will close. Instead, it asks voters who should make those decisions in the future.

If approved, future proposals to close schools would be decided by voters across all five towns in the district, reflecting the fact that we share one budget, one administration, one school board, and one future.

Questions? Concerns? Want to learn more?

Upcoming Community Conversations - Please Join Us!

These gatherings are open to every resident in WCUUSD, regardless of where they live or where they stand on the ballot question. We hope you'll stop by, ask questions, meet neighbors from across the district, and join the conversation.

Tuesday, July 28 | 4:00–5:30 PM - Four Corners Schoolhouse, East Montpelier
Wednesday, July 29 | 5:00–6:00 PM - Field by the Middlesex Bandstand by Rumney (before the Bandstand Concert) (In case of rain we will be inside Rumney School Library)
Thursday, July 30 | 4:30–6:00 PM - Calais Town Hall
Wednesday, August 5 | 5:00–6:30 PM - Worcester Pavilion at Ladd Field
Saturday, August 8 | 11:00 AM–3:00 PM - Community Picnic at Wrightsville Reservoir
Free food and drinks, plus day passes to the reservoir for everyone who attends. We'll gather at the large shelter for food and conversation, and you're welcome to enjoy the beach and reservoir throughout the day.

How You Can Help

Vote to APPROVE on Aug 11

The WCUUSD Special Election is Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Make a plan to vote—and encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to do the same! An APPROVE vote will ensure that all district voters have a say in future school closure decisions.

Election Day:

Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
Polls are open from 7 AM to 7 PM in Calais, East Montpelier, and Middlesex.
Polls are open from 8 AM to 7 PM in Berlin
Polls are open from 10 AM to 7 PM in Worcester

Early Voting:

Ballots will be available as of July 22nd through your Town Clerk's office

Vote by Mail (Absentee Ballot)

If you requested an absentee ballot for the August primary before the WCUUSD ballot question was set—even if you've already returned it—you will automatically receive a separate WCUUSD Special Election ballot. You can return it by mail, place it in your town's secure ballot drop box, or bring it to your polling place on Election Day.
If you haven't requested an absentee ballot but would like to vote by mail, contact your Town Clerk or request one through Vermont's My Voter Page at ttp://vote.vermont.gov.

Donate

Every dollar you give helps reach more voters before this critical election through community events, lawn signs, mailers, and grassroots outreach. The decisions made on August 11 will shape the future of our schools for years to come. Help ensure every district voter understands what's at stake and has the information they need to make their voice heard.

Once you've donated, consider joining our email list to get the latest updates and take action quickly and easily to support sustainable schools across our district.

Community Events

Please Join Us! These gatherings are open to every resident in WCUUSD, regardless of where they live or where they stand on the ballot question. We hope you'll stop by, ask questions, meet neighbors from across the district, and join the conversation.

Tuesday, July 28 | 4:00–5:30 PM - Four Corners Schoolhouse, East Montpelier
Wednesday, July 29 | 5:00–6:00 PM - Field by the Middlesex Bandstand by Rumney (before the Bandstand Concert) - in case of rain the event will be held inside the Rumney School Library
Thursday, July 30 | 4:30–6:00 PM - Calais Town Hall
Wednesday, August 5 | 5:00–6:30 PM - Worcester Pavilion at Ladd Field
Saturday, August 8 | 11:00 AM–3:00 PM - Community Picnic at Wrightsville Reservoir
Free food and drinks, plus day passes to the reservoir for everyone who attends. We'll gather at the large shelter for food and conversation, and you're welcome to enjoy the beach and reservoir throughout the day.

Come connect, have fun, and celebrate the students, educators, and communities that make our district special.

Questions? Email us at strongschoolsvt@gmail.com