Mountain Views School District Secures $4.25 Million in Private Fundraising Pledges to Support New Middle and High School Rebuild

The Mountain Views School District (MVSD) today announced that it has secured $4.25 million in private fundraising pledges to support the proposed rebuild of Woodstock Union High School and Middle School. This total includes the previously announced $1.5 million Max Comins Challenge Grant and represents a significant milestone in the District’s effort to reduce the local tax impact of the project.

The Comins Challenge Grant provides a 12-month window to secure a full, dollar-for-dollar match following successful passage of the school construction bond and satisfaction of state-required contingencies. District leaders are confident that momentum will continue if voters approve the bond on March 3, unlocking additional philanthropic support from donors who have already expressed interest in the project. 

“This level of generosity sends a powerful message,” said Seth Webb, Chair of the Rebuild Working Group. “Community members are stepping forward because they believe in delivering a modern, safe, and educationally sound school for our students and because they want to help to reduce the financial burden on local taxpayers.”

With a successful bond vote and continued fundraising over the next year, MVSD projects that total private contributions will exceed $5 million, significantly more than the District’s initial goal of $3 million in private fundraising and more than the $3.5 million pledged in 2024. Importantly, these donations are specifically intended to support a full rebuild. Donors have made it clear that they want to help the District deliver a safe, modern, and functional school for students and are willing to make significant investments to ensure that this happens.

School Board Chair Keri Bristow noted that the fundraising progress reflects years of careful work. “This did not happen overnight,” Bristow said. “It reflects sustained engagement, thoughtful design revisions, and a clear focus on affordability. We are grateful to the donors who have stepped up early and helped position the District to meet required outside funding thresholds.”

About the Rebuild Proposal

On March 3, 2026, voters across the Mountain Views School District will consider Article 4, a revised and more affordable bond proposal to rebuild Woodstock Union High School and Middle School. The existing facility, constructed in 1958, no longer meets modern educational standards or building codes. Studies have shown that renovation or phased repairs would cost more over time, take longer to complete, and be more disruptive to students and staff.

Article 4 includes two cost-containment contingencies written directly into the ballot language. The District may only issue debt if at least 25% of project costs are secured from state, federal, or private sources and if the Legislature eliminates the double penalty for school construction debt. Together with design revisions, these safeguards reduce the local share by more than $15 million compared with the 2024 proposal. This proposal is also $20 million less than the estimated cost of a comprehensive rebuild.

MVSD holds pre-approval from the Vermont Agency of Education for a full rebuild, positioning the District to access the State’s School Construction Aid Program. State aid is conservatively estimated at $25 million and could reach as much as $50 million over the life of the bond.

Additional information is available at: https://mtnviews.org/woodstock-union-rebuild-bond-vote

Contact:

Sam Stockwell

Communications Lead, MVSU Rebuild Working Group

email.rebuildteam@mtnviews.org