School board narrows budget flyer, adds clear borrowing language and pledges special-education briefing

The Missisquoi Valley School District board agreed to simplify informational flyers and outreach for the upcoming budget vote and to add plain-language explanations about borrowing and special-education costs.

Board members spent the bulk of the meeting debating two draft flyers after hearing that several residents found the FAQ-style front page confusing. Several members said the version that foregrounded apparent ‘‘increases’’ risked alienating voters. ‘‘Less is more,’’ Peter said, arguing that voters should see clearly what the district cut rather than wade through mixed language about increases and cuts.

The board directed staff to produce a simplified, bullet-point flyer that lists the line items cut (without individual dollar amounts on the mailed piece) and to highlight a single, clear total reduction. Members asked that the flyer include distinct wording on the borrowing article — the ballot item that, if approved, allows the district to borrow in anticipation of tax receipts — and a short, plain-language statement that the district will return to voters until a budget is passed. ‘‘We must in bold highlight that we have to keep proposing budgets until one is passed,’’ one member said.

Administrators and board members disagreed about whether the mailer should show specific dollar amounts. Some members favored including numbers because voters have asked ‘‘what was cut,’’ while others feared that line-item figures would prompt detailed second-guessing and require the flyer to also show increases, which the board wanted to avoid in the public-facing piece. The board settled on a version that lists cuts by category without per-item dollar labels, with a QR code linking to full line-item detail on the district website.

The board also agreed to time the mailing so it reaches voters before the public informational meeting and to coordinate outreach with local PTOs, selectboards and a planned coffee-and-donuts event to answer voters’ questions in person.

Separately, members asked administration to present a targeted briefing on special-education ‘‘high-cost’’ placements and state reimbursement rules before the informational meeting. Administration said there are roughly 33–35 students whose individualized placements exceed $65,000 annually and that the district projects about $1.5 million in revenue tied to high-cost reimbursements. The board requested the presentation to clarify how transportation, tuition and other costs are reimbursed and how Act 173-related rules affect local funding.

Until a budget is adopted, the superintendent said the district is honoring teacher and required contracts but is pausing discretionary contracts and nonessential new hires (for example, some summer programs and additional stipends) to limit financial exposure. The administration said it has sent letters of intent to some coaches and contractors contingent on a passed budget.

The board voted to approve the flyer approach and related outreach plan and directed staff to finalize messaging, update the QR-code links to match the mailed content, and schedule the special-education briefing at an upcoming meeting.

The informational meeting is scheduled for the 10th; the board agreed to mail materials next week and to remind voters that absentee ballots are available.