MONTPELIER— State officials unveiled the broad strokes of Gov. Phil Scott’s education proposal Wednesday, a plan that includes sweeping changes like consolidating Vermont’s dozens of school districts to just five and adopting a foundation formula.
“We know that the work that we’re describing here is going to be really challenging,” Zoie Saunders, Vermont’s secretary of education, said. “I ask you to join us so we can be bold together.”
Scott first hinted at the proposal during his inaugural address earlier this month, including a shift to a foundation formula and a change in school governance structures. In a foundation formula, districts are provided a base amount of money per student.
In the overview presentation to both the House and Senate, Saunders did not specify what the base payment per student would be under the proposed funding formula. But she called the base payment “very generous … compared to spending in other states.”
Vermont’s current system lacks “incentives” for districts to save money, and is “too complicated for people to understand,” said Craig Bolio, Vermont’s tax commissioner, who joined Saunders in making the presentation.
Documents distributed to lawmakers said “districts could choose to raise limited additional funds above their foundation formula amount through their local grand list.” Officials did not immediately elaborate on the mechanism for spending more than the base amount.
The proposal eliminates the notion of “supervisory unions,” suggesting instead five regional districts. Those districts would be the Champlain Valley region, Winooski Valley region, Northeast region, Southwest region and Southeast region. Each district would have roughly 10,000-15,000 students, except for the Champlain Valley district, which would have closer to 34,000.
The plan calls for “regional comprehensive high schools, central middle schools, local elementaries,” according to the documents. Currently, Vermont has 52 supervisory unions and supervisory districts — the overarching administrative units that often include multiple boards and school districts.
The five districts would have part-time elected school board members who would be paid. To make up for the reduction in local control, the plan proposes “school advisory councils.” The councils, composed of caregivers, educators and students, would have input on budget development and strategic planning.
This story will be updated.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Administration officials unveil education plan with just 5 school districts statewide.