Our beloved elementary schools in the Harwood Unified Union School District (HUUSD)—specifically Fayston, Moretown, and, to a lesser extent, Warren—are under threat of closure. Every proposed reconfiguration plan eliminates at least Fayston and Moretown and aims to send the students to schools where they won't fit. This is an urgent crisis for our children, families, and rural communities.

Our schools offer exceptional learning experiences. Fayston and Moretown students thrive in outdoor classroom environments, exploring the forests and rivers that surround them. These schools foster deep community ties, individualized learning, and a sense of belonging that larger schools cannot replicate. Research shows school closures devastate communities, leading to population decline, lower property values, and increased child poverty. Numerous studies also highlight the negative effects on student achievement and well-being, as well as the harm of long commutes for young children.

Despite this, the HUUSD Board and its design firm, TruexCullins, started with financials and haven't yet considered the social consequences of closing schools. The meager projected savings are hardly worth dismantling the schools that help make our towns special.

We urge the HUUSD Board to reject any plan that closes our community schools. 

Please sign this petition to demand the Board prioritize our children's futures. Going further, please attend the next HUUSD Board meeting on April 9th at 6:00 PM at Harwood to make your voice heard. 

There are plenty of other ways to make our system financially sustainable, like fixing how we pay for healthcare to shifting social services out of Vermont's education fund.

Help us save our wonderful schools and preserve the heart of Vermont’s rural communities!