Addison voters to decide on ANwSD withdrawal

ADDISON | Residents of the town of Addison received a surprise in their mailboxes June 22. A printed municipal warning from the Addison Selectboard was mailed to local voters regarding a petition received by the board to withdraw from the Addison Northwest School District (ANwSD). A Tuesday, July 6, information meeting will discuss the pros and cons of withdrawal with a vote on the issue to be held Tuesday, July 13. On April 6, the Addison Select Board accepted a voter petition officially titled, "Shall the town of Addison withdraw from the Addison Northwest School District?" But the Selectboard, as well as many residents, has ongoing concerns regarding the negative impact the ANwSD will continue to have on the tax burden and viability of the town. The Addison Selectboard warned the July 6 information meeting which will be held at 7 p.m. at Addison Community Hall. Voters can attend the meeting either in-person or via Zoom video streaming (the meeting link is online at addisonvt.net). According to the flyer, "the board is also concerned that the ANwSD ignored the November 2019 vote..." In 2019, Addison voters disapproved of closing the town school (373 opposed versus 123 in favor) indicating that voters entered the union to save the school and not close it. According to the selectboard warning, "The ANwSD has also denied voter petitions to amend the Act 46 Articles of Agreement; ANwSD claims sole authority." Prior to the Act 46 union, the ANwSU five budgets combined increased $1.2 million from FY2012 to FY2017. Under Act 46 (ANwSD union), education spending increased $2.3 million from FY2017 to FY2020. With the Addison Central School closed, education spending has been projected to increase another $6 million by FY2026. The ANwSD is currently pursuing a massive consolidation with Mt. Abraham School District, which will result in Addison entering a $53 million-dollar-plus budget and adding more facilities. The vote is anticipated for March 2022. Vermont Statute 16VSA724 details the process for voters to withdraw their town from a Union; this voter option is under the purview of town boards. What will Addison's education funding look like after leaving the ANwSD? The selecboard provided several positive outcomes for local voters to consider: The town of Addison will become a pre-kindergarten to grade 12 tuition school district Addison will no longer be responsible for the ANwSD budgets A local school board will be reorganized with members approved by voters Addison taxpayers will be responsible for individual tuition for students residing full-time in the town of Addison (currently 138 students) If a parent chooses a state public school, the tuition is set by that state school. If a parent chooses a state-approved independent school, the tuition is set by that school, not to exceed the state cap. The ANwSD FY2022 tuition is $17,266 for kindergarten to grade six and $18,514 for grades seven to 12 The 2021/2022 caps for independent schools are $15,513.00 for kindergarten to six and $16,842.00 for grades seven to 12 Addison voters can approve and limit transportation Withdrawal opens up the possibility of setting up a state-approved independent school State funding, such as special education, is available to independent schools. Establishing an independent town school is not under the purview of the town or school board, according to the selectboard.

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Addison voters to decide on ANwSD withdrawal

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