TOWNSHEND — Windham Central Supervisory Union recently announced that Chief Financial Officer Laurie Garland was certified as director of school business management and finance through the Vermont Association of School Business Officials.
“Once again, the team at the Central Office has shown their dedication and commitment to the student, families, and Boards of Windham Central [with] this certification,” WCSU Superintendent William Anton said in a news release.
Anton said Garland “has been a dedicated member of the Windham Central Team since 2003, starting off as a part-time Medicare clerk. Because of her dedication to detail, Laurie was given additional responsibilities, which included working on an audit that disallowed over $1,000,000 worth of reimbursements. After her hard work, all but $50,000 was returned to the WCSU districts.”
In 2014, long-time Business Manager Frank Rucker left WCSU for a similar position with Windham Southeast Supervisory Union. Anton said his successor was in office for two years but, because of personal reasons, was often absent.
“By default, Laurie became the de-facto business manager and filled in … while still staying on top of her other duties,” Anton said. “This allowed the Supervisory Union to function while allowing the business manager to see to his affairs.”
When Rucker's successor left in 2016, Anton said, Garland agreed to step into the role of interim business manager and was appointed business manager the following year.
Along with overseeing the accounting and “business” finance, Garland also oversees personnel management and any other duties requested of her by the superintendent.