[T]own Meeting Day 2016 put school mergers on trial in a number of communities, and voters sided with Act 46 in overwhelming numbers.
Five mergers in Orange, Addison, Rutland and Franklin counties were approved by a majority of voters. At the same time, Huntington resisted officially joining the Mount Mansfield Modified Union School District once again.
Gov. Peter Shumlin commended communities for working hard on consolidation plans. “These larger districts will be able to provide more stability and support for their small, local schools,” he said in a statement.
The percentage of voters supporting unification was stark in three merger votes: 84 percent in Rutland South, 79 percent in Orange Southwest, 76 percent in Addison Northwest.
“The votes show that these are plans the voters can get behind,” said Nicole Mace, executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association, “there is a lot of energy in these communities.”
The unification tallies:
- Voters in Fairfield (376 to 152), St. Albans City (1070 to 299) and St. Albans Town (1090 to 645) agreed to unify.
- Likewise, Bridport (334 to 98), Cornwall (404 to 63), Middlebury (1631 to 278), Ripton (150 to 93), Salisbury (not available), Shoreham (305 to 143), Weybridge (329 to 39).
- In Rutland South a unification was agreed to by 444 to 108 in Clarendon, 337 to 61 in Shrewsbury, 234 to 28 in Tinmouth and 447 to 77 in Wallingford.
- Sweeping majorities in Ferrisburgh (852 to 241) and Vergennes (661 to 214) led communities in Addison Northwest. Voters in Addison approved (366 to 169), Panton (181 to 46) as well as in Waltham (163 to 21).
- Brookfield said yes (310 to 125) to partner up with Braintree (269 to 55) and Randolph (1006 to 249).
“Act 46 is an opportunity to lean into the future and it looks like a lot of communities are going that route,” said Jeff Francis, executive director of the Vermont Superintendents Association.
Under Act 46, communities in 40 school districts have streamlined into nine unified school districts. Lawmakers hope the mergers will save money and create more opportunities for students.
Consolidating into larger administrative units is necessary because the state has shed 20,000 students over the past 15 years, according to Shumlin. “I am proud that Vermont is moving forward with reforming our education system so it reflects the reality of our student count and meets the needs of our kids,” he said.
Vermont has one of the most complex school finances systems in the country. Depending on which national research is quoted, the state ranks either fifth or first in spending. There is one adult for every 4.6 students working in the school system, according to Francis.
A report last month from Lawrence Picus, a national analyst, showed that Vermont spends 10 percent, or $150 million, more than necessary on public school education K-12.
“The fact of the matter is that we spend a lot and Act 46 is intended to bring us to a better place in terms of both equity, opportunity and affordability. Many school districts around Vermont are working to see what they can do,” Francis said.
Compounding the issue is the large number of small school districts in the state, according to Mace. Vermont has 270-plus school districts.
“This is a much needed conversation about how to design a better system that responds to demographic challenges and ensures we are both providing a quality education to students and preserving strong communities,” she said.
Mace said when community members sit down together across community lines and honestly assess the challenges they face to delivering a better education program to students “they quickly understand the limits of the system they are currently in and the promise of a more unified system.”
But hesitancy remains in many parts of Vermont, including in Huntington where residents are committed to the Brewster Pierce preK-4 school. The community has repeatedly voted against becoming full members in Mount Mansfield Modified Union School District. Huntington shares the superintendent, is represented on the 15-member school board and has students attending Mount Mansfield schools for grades 5-12.
Megs Keir, former chair of the Huntington School Board, said residents weren’t casting protest votes against Act 46, they just love their local school. “We are more pro our school district and that is really what it is about,” Keir said. “It isn’t about being against something. Our representative on the unified district board gets along just fine with the rest of the district.”
When eight other Chittenden East towns gave up their school boards to join Mount Mansfield, Huntington held out. They kept their school board and were able to take advantage of a transitional tax benefit for students in grades 5-12.
“There is a great spirit of support for the local school,” said Keir. “People really value having the opportunity to come to monthly board meetings and interact with board members.”
