School Board looks to fill Duxbury vacancy

June 25, 2021 | By Torrey Smith

 To the Duxbury community: 

Might you be interested in serving on the Harwood Unified Union School District School Board? One of Duxbury's two representatives on the board has accepted a job at Thatcher Brook – now named Brookside Primary School – in Waterbury for next year and resigned from his board seat, effective immediately. The board is hoping to appoint a replacement at a special meeting July 14. 

It's an interesting time to be on the school board – especially as we head toward putting a bond before voters in November, hire a new superintendent, and continue to plan for the long-term configuration of schools in the district. Members of the current school board (which could include you!) will make decisions in the coming months that will set the course for our district for years to come.

The school board typically meets 2 to 3 times per month, on Wednesday evenings, for about three hours at a time. There is often a couple hours of reading prep in advance of each meeting. Meetings will return to being mostly in-person for board members and are held in the library at Harwood. No previous board experience is necessary, but an open mind and interest in learning about the role of school boards is a plus!

As you may have guessed from reading headlines and Front Porch Forum posts over the last couple years, being on the school board can be a challenging volunteer experience. But it's an important part of the way local government in Vermont stays vital and strong. You will learn a lot about our community, education funding and policy, and the democratic process. Your service will make a meaningful difference for residents and families in all six of our towns.

The board has scheduled a meeting for July 14 to make the appointment to this seat. The meeting will be accessible remotely for anyone not able to attend in person. The new Duxbury member would serve until Town Meeting Day 2022, at which time the appointee could continue their service by being elected on Town Meeting Day to finish out the final year of what was a three-year term ending March 2023.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest to myself (tcsmith@huusd.org) and to Superintendent Brigid Nease (bnease@huusd.org) as soon as possible. More information about the district and the Board is online at huusd.org, and you will find answers to frequently asked questions ("Join the School Board FAQ") here: huusd.org/board-information.

Thank you so much for considering, and please be in touch with any questions.

Torrey Smith, Duxbury resident

Chair, HUUSD School Board