Donor Hails the Capital Project a 'Vision of Equity'
Vermont Business Magazine The Heart of Winooski (HOW) Foundation has secured a lead gift of $100,000 from Shelburne residents, Bruce Lisman and Kyla Sternlieb.
“In recent years, we’ve mostly focused our gifts on rescuing dogs and planting trees, but when we heard what was happening in Winooski I knew that we needed to be a part of it,” said Bruce Lisman. Kyla Sternlieb owns Under the Weather, a Winooski-based company that produces wellness products for dogs and cats.
Lisman visited the district several years ago and was struck by how crowded the classrooms were, but also how critical the role of the school is in the lives of all community members—not just the students.
More recently, after a virtual tour of the Capital Project design, he saw the project as forward-thinking, innovative, and really designed to meet the entire community’s needs.
He said, “This initiative is way past a remodeling of Winooski’s schools. This is a comprehensive action-oriented effort to change the course of generations of children!”
“Superintendent McMannon presented his vision for the future of the school system and his passion is contagious. The schools in Winooski are places where children will have access to medical, dental, and psychological care in a private setting, in addition to a terrific education fitted to the needs of a highly diverse population,” said Lisman.
“Community members can access free, healthy food, and parents can receive culturally appropriate support so they can get the skills they need to engage in a modern educational system. In order to build on a vision of equity, they need new space…a lot of it.”
“The Winooski Capital Project is an action step that aims to solve the problems of inequity. After all, 37% of the students are English Language Learners and the district has among the highest poverty levels in Vermont,” said Lisman.
“The proof will be in the opportunities that are created for each student. They will go on to do great things long after I’m gone. We’ve chosen to make public our commitment in order to highlight both an extraordinary vision for one of Vermont’s most diverse schools but to remind others that this effort will require the help of many.”
The HOW Foundation was established to support the ENDS statement of the Winooski School District, specifically as it pertains to the ongoing Capital Project.
“I am incredibly grateful and humbled by Kyla and Bruce’s generous investment in our project! Our hope is that others will be motivated to join them in this human-centered, community-driven effort to support innovative, personalized and supportive learning for all students and provide a hub of learning, connection and essential support for all Winooski residents,” said Sean McMannon, WSD Superintendent.
The HOW Foundation Board, composed of 12 members, including two students, WSD staff members, a PTO member, a Winooski City Council member and Winooski community members, will work together on an investment plan for this and other donations.
The Capital Project, slated for completion in August 2022, will create approximately 75,000 sq ft of new space including a new gymnasium, middle school, and elementary school wing, as well as the renovation of approximately 125,000 sq ft of existing space.
The new design reflects the modern advancement of the educational sector, incorporating a pod design rather than lecture structure, a full health office suite including a school-based health center, a large performing arts center and cafeteria.
Source: January 5, 2021, Winooski, VT - The Heart of Winooski (HOW) Foundation www.howvt.org