[B]ristol Democrat Rep. David Sharpe was recognized for his commitment to public education at an event on Friday organized by the Vermont Superintendents Association and the Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators.
Sharpe will be retiring after 16 years in the Vermont House, the last three as chair of the House Education Committee. As committee chair he played a key role in the passage of two key pieces of legislation: Act 46, the 2016 school district consolidation law, and H.897, a bill approved this year that will change the way special education is delivered and paid for across the state.
Sharpe was presented the first-ever award for Championing Public Education during a 90-minute showcase featuring music, poetry and other presentations by public school students. Jeff Francis, head of the Vermont Superintendents Association, said it was a fitting occasion for honoring the lawmaker.
“Dave Sharpe has really been a champion of public education during his service as a legislator. It seemed fitting and logical to recognize him,” Francis said.
In introducing the award, Francis said education has become politicized, in Washington and in Vermont. “It has become increasingly challenging to navigate the public policy arena because we have some tough issues,” he said.
Sharpe’s commitment to public education has been a beacon shining through the political haze, Francis said. “We thought it was fitting based on his service, his commitment and tenacity in the fight for public schools and public education in Vermont to honor him with an award.”
Colleagues and state officials credited Sharpe with putting in place policies that eventually will reduce the cost of education while still improving quality and equity for students.
Rep. Emily Long, D-Newfane, also a member of the House education committee, said Sharpe has been a voice for students who are often forgotten. “Dave has been unwavering in his belief that every student deserves equitable access to a high-quality public education, regardless of their socioeconomic background,” she said.
Committee member Rep. Kate Webb, D-Shelburne, called him a “fierce advocate” and said “he has helped set the stage and create an environment that supports public education in Vermont.”
Former Secretary of Education Rebecca Holcombe said Sharpe took the long view toward improving quality, equity and affordability. “It takes more than slogans,” she said. “It takes really hard careful policy work. He has been willing to really dig in over time, and he asks ‘what is it we need to be doing today to help create the flexibility and the policy structures that allow people in their communities, in their schools, to do good work for kids.’”
Holcombe called the special education law a win for struggling learners. She said it is also likely to bring down the cost of services over time.
“Sharpe made it possible for us to change the policy landscape and Vermont is only at the beginning of seeing where that will take us,” she said.
In an interview, Sharpe said of all the legislation he crafted during his tenure in the Legislature, he is most proud of the special education law. He said it was more important in some ways than Act 46 “because it will affect every school, every student and hopefully it will allow efforts and programs in schools to address the needs of students and help them be more successful.”
At the same time, he said he regretted not being able to fix aspects of Act 166, the universal prekindergarten law, in particular a rift over funding between private child care providers and prekindergarten programs in public schools.
“Once you go down the road of giving the same amount of money to Vermont’s wealthiest and poorest families to educate their children you create an imbalance that I think is unconstitutional and subject to a lawsuit,” he said.
This past session, Sharpe tried to increase funding for public schools offering full day prekindergarten programs rather than charging parents for the extra hours, but private providers pushed back and he failed to get it through. He said he would have liked to have leveled the playing field between public schools and private programs.
“After all, public education is a free and appropriate education for every child – that is federal law – that should be our goal and it is my value,” he said.
Sharpe was emotional as he accepted the award, thanking educators and his fellow legislators for their work. Sharpe said school policies were a team effort that reached across party lines. But he warned of challenging times ahead.
“We have a huge conflict in this state between public and private education,” he said. “There is a movement across the state and across the country towards this notion that vouchers create quality. I dispute that. I believe we need to work with public education. It is the foundation of democracy and the hope for the future of our country.”
