School board chair resigns

Vermont Standard
2/20/20

By Neil Allen
Standard Staff

On Feb. 14, Windsor Central Modified Unified Union School District (WCMUUSD) School Board Chair Paige Hiller, representing Woodstock, submitted her resignation just two weeks before stepping down from the position. She is stepping down because of “some health issues I have faced these past few months,” she said in a statement.

In the school board report, Hiller and Co-Chair Jennifer Iannantuoni, representing Killington, had shared they would be stepping down from their leadership roles when the school board holds its organizational meeting on March 9.

“I had honestly hoped to step down with Jennifer as planned. But circumstances did not allow for me to follow through. I am saddened to leave the board prematurely but thank everyone for their support over the many years I have served our community,” Hiller said in an email.

“It seemed to me appropriate at this time for me to relinquish my position as chair of the WCMUUSD board in view of some health issues I have faced these past few months. Although these volunteer positions are part time, they in a practical sense are almost full time, in view of the complexity of the issues, the importance of the outcomes, and the paramount interests of the taxpayers,” she continued.

“I appreciate the support of the Board members, the talented staff and community members within our towns, and, again, I am honored to have served this exceptional community for so many years,” Hiller concluded.

Fifteen years ago, Hiller had been elected to the Woodstock Elementary School Board. Since that time, she has served in various capacities, including Chair of that board, Chair of the Woodstock Middle School and High School, Chair of the Windsor Central Supervisory Union and, most recently, as Chair of the WCMUUD board, representing the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, and Woodstock.

Hiller commented on the successes she has had in her various positions.

“Woodstock Elementary School enjoyed the creation of the innovative new playground, the introduction of a dedicated STEM system at that school, improving, and updating the building, all of which could not have been accomplished without the combined efforts of our parents, community members, staff and school board,” she said. “As well as establishing positive relationships with the wonderful support staff, teachers and principals at both the elementary school and middle school and high school.

“As a newly formed, WCMUDD district, we have faced many new challenges as we forge a new path” Hiller continued. “I have encouraged our board members to work collectively as a public school district to provide all of our students with the best education and opportunities to succeed, strive for academic excellence while we as a board exercise fiscal responsibility to our taxpayers.”

Windsor Central Union District Superintendent Mary Beth Banios commented, “Paige has served our communities with passion, commitment, and a strong student focus for well over a decade. I have valued both the professional and personal relationship that we have formed over the past three years of working together. Her extensive experience and knowledge of our schools, district budget, faculty and staff contract negotiations, and community histories will leave a void that will be hard to fill. She has worked tirelessly on behalf of the students of all of our towns and she should leave secure in the knowledge that she has had a strong, positive impact on the education that is offered to all of our district students.”

There is one school board meeting left in February.

“I would assume Jennifer Iannantuoni, the Board Co-Chair, will facilitate,” she said.

The school board will have to vote to accept Hiller’s resignation before it is official.

The next steps will happen after the town meeting vote on March 3, which will include voting in the various towns for new board members. Then the board will choose new officers at the organizational meeting, according to Banios.

“The March 9 board meeting is the scheduled organizational meeting, which requires the annual election of a board chair. As both Paige and Jennifer had previously shared that they would be stepping down from their leadership roles, the board will have to elect a new chair and co-chair at this meeting.”

Hiller expressed her desire to help the new leaders as they begin their roles and feels that it will be a good transition.

“I am confident that leadership changes can be made efficiently. As a board we must respect the past, but not allow the past to get in the way of moving us forward as a district,” she said. “As the next generation of board members become the stewards of our district, I hope they will support our students as if they were their own children, treat our educational community, parents and fellow board