Editor’s note: This commentary is by Jody Normandeau, a longtime Dummerston resident who is a former school board member and chair. Her two sons graduated from Dummerston Elementary and Brattleboro Union High School and her grandchildren attend Dummerston Elementary. She has been attended study committee meetings for 18 month and all local forums on Act 46.
[O]n April 4, nine Windham County residents braved the weather to travel to Montpelier for a 5:30 hearing with the House Education Committee on bill S.122. Many others who could not go on such short notice sent in their testimony. S.122 is a Senate bill that the House is now considering, which adds some merger alternatives to Act 46, the 2015 school consolidation bill.
It was an absolutely awesome evening. We first met at 4 p.m. with people from the Northeast Kingdom to Southern Vermont. There were school board members, teachers, superintendents, study committee members and a lot of concerned citizens. We had some great conversations on education and Act 46 — conversations that have definitely been missing in our areas.
The large majority testified about their experiences with the state’s efforts to force mergers and that S.122 did nothing more than add a couple more round boxes in which to try to force square pegs.
Forty-five people, from at least 32 towns, testified, in three-minute segments. According to the news outlets, there were over 100 people in attendance. The large room was packed and even had people standing or sitting on the floor. Only a very few spoke in support of S.122 or Act 46. The large majority testified about their experiences with the state’s efforts to force mergers and that S.122 did nothing more than add a couple more round boxes in which to try to force the square pegs (our communities). Everyone supported flexibility, local control, keeping local school boards, the importance of small, rural communities in Vermont and allowing us to have more time to come up with the best solution possible for each community. They asked that districts be allowed to work towards alternatives to merger proposals in their own creative way and that the Department of Education and the Agency of Education be fair in evaluating these proposals.
The evening was electric with such committed, passionate, articulate and caring speakers, even if they only had a meager three minutes to talk. It was an honor to be part of these conversations and make so many new friends. Everyone agreed that the goals of Act 46 are laudable, but asked the state to trust its communities and local voters to do right by their children and their communities. Many brought up the fact that Act 46 identifies “Alternative Structures” to be: “A Supervisory Union with member districts” (exactly what we presently have). If a supervisory union can prove to the SBOE and the AOE that they can meet the goals of Act 46, they would not have to change their governance structure. Yes, in some cases, we would have to make some changes to meet the goals, but if we all work together, we can do it. The 706b study committee can not do it or has not been able to. Our local committee is presently stalled. In order to study an alternative to merger, it needs to be the school boards’ responsibility.
Several school districts have come up with an alternative plan and others are beginning the process. As there are around 96 districts that have not already merged, this should be an interesting year. Dummerston has begun this process by forming a local committee made up of board members, teachers and community members. We hope other districts will begin these conversations. Westminster will be hosting a forum on May 13, from 9-noon, at the Westminster Central School. School boards from the area and throughout the state are being invited. I hope that all of our boards will be a part of it. It is exciting to have these great educational discussions. Hopefully, the results of these meetings will be a school system that is better for our kids, more transparent, and by working together, without merging, better for the taxpayer.
If you would like to watch the testimony of the House Education Committee last week, go to: http://cnuz.tv/VoiceOfVermonters. It is enlightening, educational and well worth watching.
