Board Corner | Employee of the Month | Investments in Facilities & Programming | And More...

Submitted by Allison Duquette, MTSD Board of Trustees Clerk

The superintendent and school board have distinct but complementary roles in the Milton Town School District. The superintendent acts as the “CEO,” managing day-to-day operations, overseeing curriculum, instruction, staff, and budget implementation. The school board serves as elected trustees, providing oversight, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, setting budget parameters, and ensuring district policies are followed.

While the board sets the vision, policies, and budget, it is the superintendent who carries them out and advises the board on operational decisions. The board relies on the superintendent’s expertise for guidance, while the superintendent keeps the board informed on progress, challenges, and opportunities across the district. Together, they ensure the district functions efficiently and responsibly.

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The Milton Town School District continues to make key investments in both our facilities and programming to support student success. From improving heating and ventilation systems to enhancing literacy, math, and afterschool programs, these projects strengthen our schools and expand learning opportunities for all students. Here’s a look at some of the recent and upcoming MTSD investments.

You may have noticed some exciting changes this spring—Milton Town School District has a brand-new website! Along with it, we’re introducing a mobile app designed to make it easier than ever to stay connected. From following sports and school events to receiving important announcements, everything you need is right at your fingertips.

The app also includes translation features, so you can view updates in the language of your choice. Downloading is simple—just use the links below to get started and stay connected with MTSD wherever you are.

Senior Recognition Month for athletics is underway! Join us in celebrating our hardworking senior athletes as we highlight their dedication and accomplishments throughout the season. Be sure to follow us in the Milton SD mobile App or on our MHS website live feed to see the latest celebrations and catch a glimpse of the many exciting activities happening at Milton High School.

October Employee of the Month: Celebrating Our Special Educators

This October, we continue our School Board Employee of the Month program, celebrating staff who go above and beyond to support our students, colleagues, and community.

Congratulations to our October School Board Employees of the Month:

Amber Fenton – Milton High School
Amber is a caring, flexible, and dedicated educator who always puts students first. She goes above and beyond to make sure every student feels supported and successful.

“Amber is amazing! She is always on top of things and sorts through issues very quickly. This helps make students feel comfortable and heard.”
“Amber always goes above and beyond for her students. She is kind, caring, and a fantastic special educator.”

Courtney Pelkey – Milton Middle School
Courtney is an inspiring educator who brings joy, positivity, and perseverance to everything she does. She works tirelessly to ensure every student feels accepted, engaged, and successful.

“I have never met an educator who is more in tune with students' needs and who is willing to go way above and beyond to make sure that all students feel accepted, loved, engaged, and successful.”
“She has a positive outlook even when times get tough. She brings happiness wherever she goes!!!”

Lisa Ransom – Milton Elementary School
Lisa is a veteran special educator whose passion, advocacy, and creativity have made a lasting impact on MES for more than 20 years. She is admired for her compassion, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to student success.

“Lisa goes absolutely above and beyond for her students each and every day. As a special educator, she brings incredible dedication, compassion, and creativity to her work.”
“Lisa is a veteran special educator who has been dedicated to the students and community of Milton for over 20 years.”

We are proud to recognize Amber, Courtney, and Lisa for their extraordinary contributions and the positive difference they make every day.

Milton Middle School’s new phone policy has been met with positive feedback from staff who are already noticing meaningful changes. Here’s what a few teachers had to say about the impact so far:

This year seems so much better with the new response to cell phones at school. Most students seem less stressed if their phones are taken, because they know that they can give them to a trusted adult and get it back at the end of the day. Also, it's very helpful that all teachers and administration are on the same page in regards to the phones. 

Our new phone policy has had a very positive impact on student interactions. Since implementing it, we no longer face the challenges around device use. Students have been very receptive and are handing over their phones quickly and without resistance. This has allowed us to focus more on learning and building connections during the school day.

((Continued)) The roles and responsibilities of the superintendent and the school board are distinct and laid out clearly in the Vermont statute, in the Milton Town charter, and explained in depth by the Vermont School Boards Association. To put it succinctly, the superintendent is the "CEO" of the district and handles the day-to-day operations. The school board members are elected Trustees of the community to oversee the superintendent and play the important role of being the bridge between the community and the district. 

The school board's one employee is the superintendent and they are responsible for hiring, evaluating, and if need be, firing them. The expertise of the superintendent is drawn upon for board decisions and anything that the board requests happen in the school must go through the superintendent, not directly from the board to district employees. The board and the superintendent can confer with each other regarding the hiring of certain administrative positions and the board can approve new positions or job description changes at the request of the superintendent. Generally, the superintendent, or the administration under the direct supervision of the superintendent, makes the hiring selections, and ultimately the approval of all licensed employees' contracts are at the board's discretion. 

One of the other main roles of the board is the setting of the budget parameters and approving and monitoring the budget. Though the board sets the budget, the superintendent is responsible for creating the budget and managing where the money is spent within the district. The superintendent oversees curriculum, instruction, and assessment while keeping the board informed about these and other operations so that the board can monitor progress and ensure that the budget is being spent wisely. Part of this budgetary process is collective bargaining which the board is responsible for engaging in with the various faculty and staff unions within the district. 

The school board also develops and monitors district policy. This is done with input from the superintendent, but it is their main role to implement those policies and ensure that they are being followed and that the school is a safe environment for student learning. The VSBA is contracted by the state to interpret law and write model policies for boards to then modify to fit the needs of their districts. Also, like policy, the board sets a vision for the district and it is the superintendent's job to carry out the vision. 

While both the school board and the superintendent engage with the community, they do so in slightly different ways. Boards can take community input at open meetings and via other avenues and then relay that to the superintendent. They also inform the community about the budget and other major projects such as construction projects, while the superintendent answers community questions concerning district operations and is the representative of the district with the media and advocate of the district with local and state government. 

Finally, the board plays a quasi-judicial role within the district for expulsion hearings, employee termination appeals, and when a conflict arises between the district and a community member. It is not the board's job to determine whether or not an event or conflict took place, but rather to determine if the district administration acted within their discretion and carried out their duties properly.

The roles of both the superintendent and the board are integral to a functioning district but also distinct and can sometimes be confused. The most important thing to remember is that the board could be said to have a thirty-thousand-foot view while the superintendent is in the trenches taking care of the every-day operations. 

We’re excited to announce the creation of the Superintendent Parent Advisory Group (SPAG) — a new way for families to share their voices directly with district leadership. This advisory group will include parents from each school and serve as a key partner in shaping how MTSD supports every student’s educational, physical, and social-emotional growth.

SPAG’s mission is to strengthen the connection between families, schools, and district leadership. Members will meet regularly to provide input on policies, programs, and initiatives that affect students and families — from technology use and communication practices to broader changes in Vermont’s education system.

By fostering open communication and collaboration, SPAG will help ensure that decisions reflect the needs and values of our community. Stay tuned for updates from SPAG.

Milton Town School District
12 Bradley Street
Milton VT 05468