Editor’s note: This commentary is by Rama Schneider, who is the chair of the Williamstown School Board and an active member of the Williamstown community.
[A]ct 46 of 2015 is giving local communities one last shot at autonomy in the school district merger decision-making process. We should take it.
How many years have local communities and district school boards had to respond to our current reality? I ask this question because people talk of Act 46 (of 2015) as if it sprang forth fully armored from the head of Zeus without warning or preceding activity. That in itself is evidence that despite all of the warning signs, too many local school districts have not been interested in making necessary changes.
The primary reality Vermont has to deal with regarding our public education system is that the physical and personnel infrastructure is oversized. Vermont’s Department (now Agency) of Education reported for the school year 1999-2000 an enrollment of 104,559 students. That was the third year of decline from a high water mark of 106,341. For the 2015-16 year that figure is 84,446, and that reflects a 21 percent decrease in less than two decades. Oh, and these numbers include pre-K and Essential Early Education (EEE), which have increased during this enrollment decline.
This is a big deal, folks!
Vermont’s public education system is a statewide effort funded by a statewide tax.
Various people and groups have been discussing this enrollment dynamic for close to two decades. The Vermont State Board of Education, commissioners of education, legislative bodies, governors and even a few districts spoke to and acted on the above numbers. Because, however, local districts have been recalcitrant to make dramatic changes there came to be a series of legislation of which Act 46 is merely the third.
Act 46 was preceded by Act 153 in 2010 and Act 156 in 2012. These three bills share one commonality, and that is the statement that our current school governance structure is impeding necessary changes that will lead to financial and operational efficiencies. This claim is most certainly accurate.
For example, a common refrain I’ve heard from those resisting district merger is “We’re already coordinating services and saving cash and resources by consolidating to the supervisory union level things such as special educational services.” But how many school boards would have voluntarily merged these services without the requirements of Act 153, punitive threats of Act 46 and the actions of a secretary of education determined to see that boards abide by the law? From all that I’ve heard the answer to that non-rhetorical question is “not many.”
Vermont’s public education system is a statewide effort funded by a statewide tax. Local districts and their boards have been given ample time to reflect and act in a manner that responds to statewide as well as local needs. Extremely little has happened in terms of organization.
So the Legislature responded to statewide constituent pressure with Acts 153, 156 and 46.
Local communities and school boards have been given one final shot at autonomy in the merger decision. I suggest we take this opportunity.
