St. Johnsbury School Board Focuses on Community Transparency After Budget Pass

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Created on Sunday, 29 March 2026 02:01

Written by Asher Ballantine

St. Johnsbury - The St. Johnsbury School District is looking forward after narrowly passing its budget by 21 votes. On Town Meeting Day, the $31.8 million budget, a 5.34 percent increase over last year, passed with a 627 to 606 vote.

Board Chair Colleen Morris spoke about the board's constant reflection on their budgeting process. “I mean, we're always asking ourselves how we can communicate and message and share information about our programs and our students and our dollars and our budget and our decision-making,” Morris said.

Morris noted that the board plans to remain visible in the local community as the district develops its next five-year strategic plan. “I actually think trust is a huge part of a true representative board for St. Johnsbury," she added. "I really want the school board to be a representative board, and that means conversation, presence, visibility, and transparency.”

Morris also pledged to inform the community of the board’s stance on redistricting once Vermont’s Act 73 comes to a digestible close. “I feel like I'm trying to grab the wind, right?" Morris said. "Something goes by and you're like, 'Okay, that's an interesting idea,' and by the time you might have a strong, clear response to it, the wind has changed again. That makes it very difficult to be singular or staunch about a perspective.”