Give control back to local boards that do not cost the state anything.

Just read the following.

Over the years I have been invited to attend many analytical meetings, boards,
committees, group studies, etc.. that were put on or hosted by the state. With
topics ranging from Vermont economics to education.
Many smart people and business leaders attended and always gave great advice
on how things could be made better in the state of Vermont. They took time away
from their busy life (at times years) and took the topics at hart.
These people volunteer because they care. They were under the impression that their
voice made a difference to the state.
After volunteering many years of my time in things like the above, I have come to realize
that the state does not listen but put on these meetings or forms these groups for reasons other than what
they were intended for. They are putting on a show.

1 It makes them look like they care.
2 It makes them look as if they are doing something.
3 It helps calm the masses.
4 It develops a way to push a topic towards a goal, under the guise of “public support”.
5 It is used to help boost party status

The list goes on and I am sure you get my point.

Well the state must have come to realize people are starting to catch on and the show is no longer
working the way they want. Having come to that realization, the state has now come up with CFC
or challenges for change and has pushed it through the legislature at an alarming rate.
So far two major changes coming out of CFC each resulting in the further loss of the local voice or
local control. Each comes under the guise of consolidation, one in education and the other in our state
regional commissions.

The results of CFC are starting to show as now we risk the loss of our local school boards.(our local voice)
Our school boards being made up of people who care and operate at minimal cost to the state, will now
hand over all control to supervisory unions at a much larger cost to the taxpayer. Another result may well
be the loss of school choice that could result in financially harming many schools around Vermont.
I have to ask why we must pay for a supervisory union when we have local school boards that can do the same thing?

The same is being done to our regional commissions (our local voice), that could result in the change of
local or regional control of the many grants handed out and that control being handed over to the state.
All the results of CFC on education will not be evident right away but when they are it will be way too late
to do anything. Just as it is now.

Its the job of our legislature to listen to the taxpayers and that is why we elected them. It is their job
to bring our voice to Montpelier. However with CFC the state has now found a way to further limit our voice and
can now govern what they want not what the people want. Do they care what is best for the people, who knows
Will CFC turn out to be good for us, who knows but one thing is obvious – they are looking for a way to limit our local control and voice.

Change , I am getting to hate that word – I wish the state for once would just come out and say what it is and not spin
it.

I can name quite a few people who think the same way as I on this issue.

In ending I must ask everyone to issue A big thank-you to all the others that have served on
these groups and donated time to local, regional or state services. They do it because they care.