Learn about, weigh in on public education in multiple upcoming forums
October 21, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti Public education in Vermont has been in the spotlight all year from budget-building season in the spring through the summer and fall campaign season. Multiple efforts are now under way by state and local education leaders to take stock of Vermont’s K-12 education system from its design to its costs and funding mechanisms.
Public input is a key part of this process and several opportunities are available for Vermonters to weigh in with their comments and questions.
Commission on the Future of Public Education
The state legislature this spring created a special Commission on the Future of Public Education comprised of lawmakers and education leaders across the state to do a deep dive on Vermont’s education system.
That commission began its work this summer. Harwood Unified Union School District Superintendent Mike Leichliter is a member of the commission, representing superintendents.
The commission is starting its public engagement sessions with the first set for tonight, Oct. 21, in Randolph Union Middle-High School from 5 to 7 p.m. The session is also available to attend remotely online.
The commission says this will be the first of many statewide input sessions over the course of the next year. The public is invited to attend to learn more about the commission, its charge and timeline and offer input.
The meeting agenda notes specific questions tonight’s meeting will pose: “What are the strengths of public education in Vermont? What are some of the challenges of our current system? What suggestions do you have for the Commission?”
The session will include an overview of the education finance system with an eye toward school budget challenges and cost drivers.
Education Agency’s Listening Tour
Vermont Interim Education Secretary Zoie Saunders last week shared an update at Gov. Phil Scott’s weekly press conference on the Education Agency’s ongoing Listen and Learn Tour.
That effort since Saunders entered her post earlier this year has involved Saunders and agency staff visiting schools around Vermont to talk with educators and gather information on a breadth of topics regarding K-12 education.
The tour is now entering its public engagement phase, Saunders noted, and the public is invited to participate in community discussions on various education topics.
These public sessions will provide input as the agency develops a statewide strategic plan.
“Following a series of data reports and regional planning sessions with more than 250 education leaders, the agency is eager to expand these conversations to include educators, parents, students, and community members across the state,” the agency’s announcement of the public sessions explains.
“Hearing from Vermonters in every corner of the state is essential for the Agency of Education to develop goals and initiatives that support Vermont in building an education system that meets the needs of every student from cradle to career,” Saunders said.
Each public session will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at a series of locations. After an introduction, the meetings will divide attendees into small discussion groups to focus on specific topics such as student achievement and support, career and college readiness, and school budgets.
Detailed agendas will be posted on the agency website ahead of each session.
The first session is this Tuesday, Oct. 22, at Woodstock Union High/Middle School. Other sessions in our region will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Stowe High School and Oct. 28 at Montpelier High School. Two of the scheduled sessions will be entirely remote as well on Nov. 4 and Nov. 6.
Check the Listen and Learn Tour webpage for more details including agendas, links to the virtual sessions, and childcare availability. Pre-registration is not required but encouraged using an online registration form.
Save the date: Nov. 19 panel discussion at Harwood
In a similar effort to share information and solicit public feedback, the Harwood Union School Board has organized a special presentation and community discussion for Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
The Panel on Understanding Public Education Funding in Vermont will be held in the auditorium at Harwood Union High School.
In announcing the event, school board organizers explained that it will include an overview of Vermont’s current funding system for public education followed by a discussion of topics such as:
What can districts do to control costs while maintaining high-quality education?
Can we expect the Vermont Legislature to consider alternatives to the current funding system when they meet in January?
How can the major drivers of school budget increases (health insurance rates, special education costs, end of COVID-era funding) be controlled?
How do other states fund public education? Are our property tax rates higher than those in other states? Can we shift part of the education funding portion of property tax to state income tax?
Why are per-pupil education costs so high in Vermont? Which issues in public education funding are unique to Vermont and which are nationwide?
Is administrative bloat a real thing or a product of unfunded state and federal mandates?
The panelists for the Harwood event will be: Sen. Martine Gulick, D-Chittenden Central, vice chair of the Senate Education Committee; Tammy Kolbe, PhD, a national school finance expert and researcher with the American Institute for Research; Harwood Superindencent Leichliter; Harwood Finance Manager Lisa Estler; and Sen. Andrew Perchlik, D/P-Washington.
Harwood School Board member Steve Rosenberg of Moretown will be the moderator.
Mad River Valley Television is planning to livestream the event and the recording will be available to view online later on the station’s YouTube channel.