• Latest

Guest Opinion:Local Control Is Key to Public Education Success

April 2, 2018
Statewide 2023 Poetry Out Loud Winner Announced

Statewide 2023 Poetry Out Loud Winner Announced

March 28, 2023
African Queen (1951)

The Little Foxes (1941)

March 28, 2023

Free Youth Event Features Hands-On STEM Activities

March 28, 2023
Bread & Puppet Rants in Barre

Bread & Puppet Rants in Barre

March 28, 2023
Out of This World Donation

Out of This World Donation

March 28, 2023
African Queen (1951)

Exodus (1960)

March 21, 2023
Just Some Thoughts

“Don’t Worry”

March 21, 2023
Job Training Well Done

Job Training Well Done

March 21, 2023

ACLU, Partners Call on Legislators to Oppose Plans for Prison Expansion

March 21, 2023

Conservation Supports New Farm In Central Vermont

March 21, 2023

Vermont Hunter Education Courses

March 15, 2023

Vermont Philharmonic and Green Mountain Youth Symphony Present “Awakenings: Music of Young Composers”

March 15, 2023
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Thursday, March 30, 2023
The World Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Guest Opinion:Local Control Is Key to Public Education Success

vt-world by vt-world
April 2, 2018
in Letters & opinions
0

Guest Opinion: Local Control Is Key to Public Education Success

By Martha Heath

Twenty years ago Vermont made a firm commitment to retain local control of decisions about school spending. This carefully considered choice came in the wake of the Brigham decision in 1997, when the Vermont Supreme Court ruled the state’s education funding system was unconstitutional. The decision made it clear the state had the ultimate responsibility to ensure the Vermont’s schoolchildren had equal educational opportunities.

To satisfy the court, the Legislature crafted a funding system that recognizes that we are all responsible for educating all of the children in the state. At the same time, the system affirms that spending decisions should be made locally by those closest to and with the best understanding of the needs of the children in the community.

Lately, though, Montpelier appears to be backing away from this important commitment to local decision-making.

In December, the governor asked local school boards to match him in holding spending growth for next year to 2.4 percent or less. School boards responded, and at Town Meeting votes across the state 95 percent of our local communities passed budgets that held that spending growth to 1.5 percent, far below what the governor had requested.

Now the governor is asking that another $40 million be cut from these approved budgets.

His request shows a puzzling disregard and lack of respect for the work done by local school boards and communities. The governor would never question the decisions local voters make when they go to the polls to elect state officials and legislators. Why is their judgement in passing local school budgets not sound?

Act 46 initially dictated school-spending levels by imposing tax penalties on communities that exceeded prescribed growth limits. The result was a breach of one of the fundamental principles of the current funding system: districts with the same spending per pupil have the same tax rates. Fortunately, the penalties were repealed.

School consolidation exercises require large amounts of time for hundreds of volunteer school board and community members. This work is on top of the task boards have guiding the annual operation of our public school systems.

Constant change is making this task ever more difficult as boards have been working to respond to requirements regarding consolidation discussions, proficiency based learning and personalized learning plans. These requirements are important yet time consuming. To add to the challenge this year, the governor is asking for money to be cut from already passed school budgets and the legislature is contemplating a change in the school funding system that would impact budgets already passed. Isn’t it disrespectful of local voters to change the rules of the game after budgets are finalized?

School boards, school board members, and local voters are a critical part of our successful public education system in Vermont—one of the best in the county. To continue to make it better, it is important that state policy makers respect the work that is done at the local level and work with school boards instead of making their jobs more challenging. Our children’s future depends on it.

Martha Heath lives in Westford. She is a long time school board member and is a former member of the Vermont House.

Previous Post

Guest Opinion:Congress Funds Rural Programs

Next Post

Sugary Beverages

Next Post

Sugary Beverages

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In