I am writing to address and accept responsibility for the discrepancy reported in the July 20, 2015, Addison Independent between estimated tax rates Addison Northwest Supervisory Union reported to the public and the actual tax rates issued by the state.
All the Patricia Hannaford Career Center expenditures were required to be included in the tax rate calculation and were not. This caused the estimated tax rates we provided to the public to be understated. It was an error and I accept full responsibility for it.
I have been in communication with the chair of the supervisory union and the Vergennes Union High School board directly about the situation and have discussed the matter directly with a variety of city and municipal officials. This matter affects all municipalities in the supervisory union so therefore I will provide more detail about my plan to remedy the situation to each school board.
This past year has been extremely difficult. It is not any excuse, but a fact. We have tackled and succeeded at many endeavors. We are gaining and I am certain that the coming budget process will be more transparent, consistent and accurate as it supposed to be. I am very sensitive to the fragility of trust the community has in their school system and the administrators that steer it. Please know that I and all the school boards are committed to continuing to build community trust that will match the excellent school system that Addison, Ferrisburgh, Panton, Vergennes and Waltham have created and maintain.
Thank you for your time and understanding. If you have any questions or want further information, please contact me directly at [email protected] or 802-877-3332.
JoAn Canning, M.A., C.A.S
Superintendent of Schools, Addison Northwest Supervisory Union, Vergennes