This is the statement read by the OVUU Board at the conclusion of the meeting on Friday, February 20th.

The Board learned on Wednesday that it was under the mistaken belief that a quorum of the board was not only required in order to hold a meeting, but also to take action on motions. This is the requirement that applies to most municipal entities, like Select Boards, under Title 1 of the Vermont Statutes. Vermont Education Law (Title 16) has a provision that requires a quorum for a meeting to be held, but only requires a majority of school board members present to pass a motion.

Based on this, the action taken at the Board’s February 3rd meeting, the Motion to Reinstate the preschool program to the Caverly location passed by a vote of 6-4.

Based upon this vote, for school year 2026-2027, the Lothrop Pre-Kindergarten program will be located at the Caverly Building. We examined all other votes of Otter Valley Unified Union School District, and the February 3rd vote is the only item to which this applies.

We realize this creates a $13,000 budget deficit, and we will be asking the administration to address it.

Jill Doody (she/her)
Coordinator of Communications and Outreach
Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union
www.rnesu.org