Join us Wednesday, January 7 for the Community Budget Forum| 7:00 PM | St. Johnsbury School (also via Zoom)

Links and updates are available on the School Board page.

We have several career openings and are looking for responsible, dedicated adults to join our school community. Please share with anyone you think may be interested!

Current Openings:

• Paraeducator to support a high school student
• Head Cook
• Substitute School Nurse (LPN/RN)
• Teacher & Paraeducator Substitutes
• Preschool Paraeducator Substitutes

Apply here: https://sjsd.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

We’re pleased to share that the St. Johnsbury School District’s FY 2027 Budget Information page is now live. This dedicated space was created to keep our community, families, and stakeholders informed throughout the budget development process.

Transparency is essential to building trust, and we want you to have easy access to the most current and accurate information. The page will be updated regularly with:

• The latest budget drafts
• Insights into key decisions
• Revisions and meeting updates
• Important milestones along the way

We hope this resource provides clarity and helps answer any questions as we work toward a responsible and thoughtful FY27 budget.

Visit the page here: https://secure.smore.com/n/ay30c

St. Johnsbury School is in the news! Our 5th graders took part in a statewide civic experience through the Kid Governor Vermont program. Their campaigns, ideas, and leadership efforts are truly inspiring and we are so proud of all of them!

VT Digger: https://vtdigger.org/.../fifth-graders-are-days-away.../

NPR: https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2025-11-17/fifth-graders-are-days-away-from-electing-vermonts-first-kid-governor

The St. Johnsbury School District understands that a decision to open, delay, or close school because of weather has a significant impact on families. The safety of students and staff is always the top priority.

How does the District monitor the weather?

The Superintendent participates in National Weather Service (NWS) Burlington briefings whenever winter weather may affect the school day. These briefings are typically held:

• The evening before a potential event at 4:00 p.m.
• The morning of the event at 4:45 a.m.

During these calls, the Superintendent is able to ask specific questions about conditions in St. Johnsbury. The District also uses additional NWS resources to monitor changing conditions overnight and throughout the day. If conditions are not fully clear during the evening call, the District will usually wait until the early morning briefing and local road checks before making a final decision.

How is the decision to delay or close school made?

The decision is based on a combination of local information and professional weather guidance, including:

• Information on road conditions from our transportation provider, who is in contact with local road agents about specific routes
• Parking lot and sidewalk conditions reported by the Facilities Director and maintenance staff
• The amount and type of snow or ice that has already fallen
• The weather forecast, including whether conditions are expected to improve or worsen during arrival and dismissal times
• Building conditions, including heat, electricity, and water
• Temperature and wind chill, especially for students who walk or wait for buses
• Coordination and consultation with other Northeast Kingdom superintendents and neighboring districts, including St. Johnsbury Academy, Lyndon Institute, Kingdom East School District, and Caledonia Central Supervisory Union

Although the final decision is made for St. Johnsbury School, regional coordination is important because many of our staff travel between these districts.

Who makes the decision?

The Superintendent of Schools is responsible for the final decision to open, delay, or close school. The Superintendent consults with:

• The National Weather Service
• The District’s transportation provider
• The Facilities Director and Principal
• Neighboring superintendents and local independent school leaders

All of this information is weighed together in order to make the safest and most reasonable decision possible.

When is the decision made?

Whenever possible, the District will announce a delay or closure the evening before, ideally by 8:00 p.m.

If that is not possible, the Superintendent participates in the 4:45 a.m. NWS briefing, checks local conditions with the transportation provider and Facilities Director, and then makes a decision as early as possible. Morning decisions are typically made by 5:30 a.m. and communicated to families no later than 6:00 a.m.

How are families notified?

When there is a delay or closure, the District will notify families using:

• The automated notification system (phone and email) based on contact information provided to the school
• The District and school Facebook pages
• The District and school websites
• Local media, including WCAX

Please make sure that your contact information is current at the school so that you receive these notifications.

Family decision making

Weather and road conditions in our region can vary from one location to another. If you believe it is not safe for your child to travel to school from where you live, please use your best judgment. Families are always encouraged to make the decision that they feel is safest for their children.

We hope this explanation helps families understand the careful process the District uses to make decisions about school closings and delays.