The River Valleys Unified School District Board has set up a new website and blog where citizens and the media can follow the work schedule and progress that the six-member board is making in forming the new school district. The site is www.rivervalleysschooldistrict.blogspot.com.
A six-member board - three elected from Dover and three elected from Wardsboro - is part of the Windham Central Supervisory Union (www.windhamcentral.org), and is the panel tasked with transitioning the Dover Elementary School and the Wardsboro Elementary School into a unified school district, to take effect July 1, 2019, under Articles of Agreement approved by voters in both towns in March 2017. The Dover board members are Richard Werner, chair Laura Sibilia, and Kerry McDonald-Cady. The members from Wardsboro are Rick Thorpe, vice-chair, Dwight Boerem, and Barry Pearson.
The new website contains multiple pages with links to the minutes of the bi-monthly meetings, BCTV videos of the meetings, and a page of Frequently Asked Questions. There are options on the site for anyone to ask a question and to send in their comments. All questions and comments received are brought to the next meeting of the Board for discussion.
One of the most important parts of the site is the links to the school policies that the Board is discussing and voting on during the unification process. No login is required to view any documents linked to or posted on the site.
The River Valleys Unified School District Board meets twice monthly. The first Monday of the month, the Board meets at the Wardsboro Elementary School on Route 100. The third Monday of the month, the Board meets at the Dover Elementary School on Schoolhouse Road.
Meetings are at 7 p.m. and, by law, are open public meetings. Anyone may attend and participate.