Last year’s Danville eighth grade class saw 13 out of the 30 students choose another school. In 2023, another mass migration of eighth graders occurred

by Alison Despathy

Danville’s recent petition to close the high school shed light on the real inequity that exists within Vermont’s educational system. I am not aware of one person in Danville who actually wanted the high school to close. Even those who signed the petition only put their name to it because they wanted a different choice for their child or they held concerns on costs and wondered if it was economically feasible to operate the high school with dwindling student numbers and continually rising property taxes. 

Forty percent increases in education property tax in the past 5 years is out of control. Last year $120 million was used to buy down education property tax. The Governor recently proposed another $75 million buy-down for the now projected 12% property tax increase. 

Money from the General Fund is intended and needed for other state expenses yet has been continually poured into education funding because we are not getting a handle on this spending. Can taxpayers even imagine what we would be paying if there were not these massive buy-downs?

All know this is unsustainable and the recent tax revolt in which more school budgets than ever were denied sent a clear message. Elected officials are attempting to fix this issue but there is much debate and without meaningful reforms to address the education crisis, towns and people will attempt to find solutions, especially when it comes to seeking what is best for their children and affording their homes and taxes. 

Some hold high priority of successful education outcomes for our children while others the bottom line is cost. Both are important and must be addressed. Dumping more and more money into education funding does not result in better outcomes and academic performance. Unfortunately, Vermont is a prime example of this reality. The conversation to continue to operate the Danville High School was overdue. The democratic process was positioned and played out with a vote of 480 –75 to keep the Danville High School open.

The community, teachers, many students and staff came out in full force to support the high school and work hard to spread the word on the vote to keep the high school open. It would be quite rare for a town to actually vote to close their school; there is tremendous history, pride and concerns for community life wrapped up in these decisions. Towns care deeply about the students and the school, livelihoods are dependent on the school, and many children are thriving at Danville High School. 

But not all….. 

Last year’s Danville eighth grade class saw 13 out of the 30 students choose another school. In 2023, another mass migration of eighth graders occurred. A desire for varied academic and social opportunities, a larger school, and bullying issues, are all concerns described by parents and children who chose to leave. These issues are not unique to Danville but they are real and these families had the money to move or afford to pay for their child to attend another school- Ultimately, they had a choice.

What about the high school students who also would like a choice and an opportunity elsewhere yet their families do not have the resources to move or afford this? Should they be held captive at the school? Because that is essentially what is happening. Some community members say then “they can leave” or “pay to go elsewhere”, but for some families this is not possible. Housing, moving and paying tuition all require resources that many do not hold. 

Vermont law states that if a town operates a public school then the children will go to that school without an option for choice, thus the Danville petition. There is a provision in statute which allows a student to request to be tuitioned to another school if it is determined that they hold “unique educational needs.” School boards do not typically support this because it may set precedent for more students to request tuitioning elsewhere and what happens if too many children leave? 

Prior to the vote to close the high school, the Danville school provided students with a survey. A section of the survey requested comments about the possible closure of the high school. Responses varied with students divided on the future of the high school. Here are responses from students seeking options:

“Danville holds a special place in my heart but I would do much better at another school.”

“Close the school because I want to go to the Academy, but my family can’t afford to move or pay tuition.”

“The people who live in Danville and want to the go to the Academy and cannot afford it need a choice at least.”

“I have nothing against Danville school but I feel like I would have a better opportunity at St. J or LI.”

“The school has slowly but surely affected my mental health and honestly I just want to start fresh.”

“I would feel relieved if the school closed, so my Mom wouldn’t have to work a third job to help pay for the academy”

“Danville holds a special place in my heart but I definitely could benefit from the closing mentally and would do much better at another school. Coming from someone who can’t afford to move or pay tuition.”

“This is a small school and toxic environment. Small schools are great but this is crazy. I think in order to be exposed to the real world and different cultures, step out of your comfort zone and into a bigger school.” 

The emerging consciousness and maturity of a child entering their first year of high school is very different from a child in grade school. They are deeply developing their identity and sense of self. Offering high school students options to discuss with their family is the greatest gift one could receive at this age. It is empowering and respects their ability to be involved in the conversation about their future and next steps. Any adult knows that feeling trapped is demoralizing and destructive, especially when there is opportunity elsewhere. 

I have witnessed the benefit of school choice for decades within the Vermont homeschool community. Many families will homeschool through 8^th grade and then children go on to attend a high school. Those families with school choice have a wonderful experience together, discussing options, visiting schools, weighing pros and cons. Compare this to those who do not have a choice but one option only and you can hope that this is a good fit, for some it will be and for others not at all. 

This is a very unfair system. 

Every town surrounding Danville, besides Cabot, has school choice for at least high school. Peacham, Barnet, Waterford, Concord, Kirby, Walden, St Johnsbury, Lyndon, Newark, Sutton. Danville and Cabot both operate small high schools with reports projecting continual decreases in student enrollment and increasing property taxes. 

A key question surfaces, Why should a town have to close their school in order to offer students choice? If there are deep concerns that too many students would leave, that should tell you something. Families and students deserve a choice –that is who matters most in this situation. 

Several Danville residents who originally signed the petition removed their name because they did not want to see the high school close. Several signers also voted to keep the school open because they know what Danville high school provides some students. With a dedicated faculty and staff, many students are thriving. No one wants to take this small, public school away from those students. 

Some viewed these shifts as proof that the petition was not warranted, some were not happy that the petition even emerged but again parents will do what they think is in the best interest of their child. That is at the heart of the matter and why the petition existed in the first place. What these actions actually reveal is that human capacity for supporting children is the greatest priority whether that be a path through Danville high school or elsewhere. A town should not have to close their public school in order for school choice to be available. If it’s a good school, it will continue to thrive and I argued this multiple times at the informational meetings.

This lack of school choice for all Vermont students is the real inequity. Approximately 90 towns in VT have school choice with the other towns not offering this to students. School choice can make all the difference in the world for children to succeed academically, have an opportunity for positive social experiences and a right fit for them personally. High school is significantly formative and having a sense of agency and self determination, offered through choice, is indeed the best gift you can give a child.