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by the Journal-Opinion
Blue Mountain Union School Board members want to hold a public forum to talk about school district consolidation.
During a wide-ranging discussion at the Orange County district’s board meeting on Sept. 3, members said they hope to solicit community input on how the district should move forward as the state begins to implement the provisions of Act 73.
“How do we want to position ourselves?” asked Orange East Supervisory Union Superintendent Heather Lawler. “When we unpack legislation, how do we want to come through this?”
BMU is not alone. The district for students in Groton, Ryegate, and Wells River is part of OESU, which has formed an Act 73 strategic planning committee. It met yesterday.
Act 73 formed a statewide redistricting task force, which is holding meetings–one of which could be held at Oxbow next month. Committee member state Sen. Scott Beck, R-St. Johnsbury, attended the BMU board meeting on Wednesday.
He said the task force is ultimately making a recommendation to the legislature, which could ignore or change its findings.
So what exactly does Act 73 do?
“If it unfolds as planned, the legislation will drastically reshape how the state’s pre-K through 12th grade schools are governed and financed,” reported the Brattleboro Reformer. “The stage will be set for a sweeping overhaul that will play out more visibly over the next 3-4 years.”
Act 73 and declining enrollment prompted Danville School Board members to talk about the future of its high school earlier this week, reported the Caledonian-Record. The district attracted fewer tuition students than budgeted while increasing numbers of Danville residents are paying tuition to attend high school elsewhere.
“The meeting turned emotional as teachers and parents defended the value of Danville’s offerings. Spencer Morse, a teacher and parent, noted the concrete benefits his own children received: ‘We are talking about closing a place where Danville residents get a lot of value out of, and they aren’t going to get the same value out of here.'”
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Categories: Education, State Government
Scott Beck, who voted for this, should not be on the committee. He is a teacher at St. Johnsbury Academy which is a private school that is in direct competition for students in the NEK. SJA is somehow not on the chopping block to close but public high school are? Beck is untrustworthy.
Well, when the Left decided to hijack public schools for their indoctrination ideology, did they honestly think every parent would go along? It sounds like parents are voting with their wallets, electing to protect their kids from the disgusting Leftist groomers, leaving public schools holding the bag.
Public schools can still be saved. But Vermont has a choice to make: continue with the toxic progressive ideology, or wrench the wheel back to common sense.
Choose wisely.
Real Name, Please?
This article should have gotten way more feedback. But we have school started and a new political season starting. We the People are busy plucking the last chicken for the pot. Anyway…
In looking at this issue of school consolidations, there are two considerations:
The fiscal conservatives look at it as a good thing, thinking it will save money. WRONG. I live in a school district that was consolidated, and at BEST, it held off spending-per-pupil for one year only.
The school advocates for “better schools,” a performance point of view, consolidation is also a failure. Statewide, there have been many consolidations and performance continues to decline.
Shall we take a look at history? One room school houses with all grades mixed in the same room outperformed what modern “Masturrs Degreee Educatours” tell us we need [did I get the accent right?]
I will reserve my french words for private discussion.