Students join adults at the Keep the Public in Public Education event at the State House on Feb. 25. Photo by Daria Bishop
Several local speakers were featured at a State House rally Tuesday, Feb. 25, with students, parents, educators and community members in support of public schools.
Organized by the nonprofit public policy advocacy organization Public Assets, the “Keep the Public in Public Education” event delivered messages to lawmakers and Gov. Phil Scott that “Vermonters want good public schools and fair taxes.”
The effort comes as the legislature and administration this session are considering sweeping reforms to Vermont public education in an effort to streamline costs to taxpayers while maintaining education quality.
The coalition organized by Public Assets includes Voices for Vermont’s Children, Vermont Education Justice Coalition, Vermont Rural Education Collaborative, and the Vermont NEA.
“Public schools are the heart of our communities,” said Susan Clark of Middlesex, an author and community facilitator. The comparison is not one of sentimentality, Clark said, but as an example of the power schools hold.
“In our public school communities, we learn to listen across difference, to navigate trade-offs, and identify commonalities, because that’s what democratic communities do,” she said. “Ultimately, the school’s heartbeat pumps out not only educated students, but an energized civic community.”
Liz Schlegel, executive director of the Alchemist Foundation, speaks at the rally. Photo by Daria Bishop
Waterbury resident Liz Schlegel, executive director of The Alchemist Foundation, explained that the philanthropic arm of the popular brewery recognizes Vermont public school students as a resource. She pointed to a statistic that 40% of Vermont students end their studies at high school graduation – making it imperative for K-12 education to serve all students well.
“We’re asking our schools to help our children grow into young adults. We’re asking for a lot – and investing a lot – because this work is critical to our success as a state,” Schlegel said. “Our investment in public education can be used to diminish inequality or it can reinforce it. Making sure that all Vermont kids have the resources they need to succeed means investing in our public schools, and giving educators the resources they need to teach kids in their communities.”
Jamie Kinnarney, superintendent of the White River Valley Supervisory Union, noted that schools in his Central Vermont district partner with more than 40 community businesses, farmers, and mentors “to provide our students with hands-on learning opportunities that allow them to pursue their passions and goals while emphasizing relevance and rigor.”
Reforms to the state’s public education system, Kinnarney said, must ensure that “students, families, and rural communities are at the forefront of any/all discussions related to how we best position ourselves for sustainability and growth as an education system while making certain that small rural towns don’t disappear.”
Vermont’s 2017 Teacher of the Year Kate McCann from U-32 Middle and High School joined the chorus, saying that Vermonters overwhelmingly support their public schools. “They recognize that strong schools make strong communities, and they want to see them fully funded, well-resourced, and able to provide the opportunities their children deserve,” McCann said. “We cannot continue to ask low- and middle-income Vermonters to bear the burden alone. The wealthiest in our society must pay their fair share to ensure that every student, no matter their background or zip code, has the tools they need to succeed.”
Harwood sophomore Harmony Belle Devoe speaks at the rally. Photo by Daria Bishop
Among those speaking was Harwood Union High School 10th grader Harmony Belle Devoe who extolled the impact her freshman math teacher had on her understanding and interest in math. The current school-budget climate, however, has students concerned for their teachers’ jobs, she noted.
“Prior to attending Harwood High School, I was constantly frustrated in math class. However, this changed in my ninth-grade math class, where my teacher taught with excitement, visuals, challenging us, accepting mistakes, and checking in to make sure we understood each step as he taught,” Devoe said.
But should voters reject the school budget on Town Meeting Day, Devoe shared that she fears that math teacher and others may lose their jobs. She added that the Harwood district’s plan includes cuts to school nursing positions for next school year, too. “We cannot keep asking our schools and teachers to do more with less, because it results in cuts to programming that has a direct negative impact on students,” she said.
The Public Schools Coalition encourages more community discussions to draw in students, parents, teachers and others to discuss public education, funding, and tax policy reform this year. Its website also lists some common criticisms of public education and education funding with data-based examinations to explore concepts including spending trends and the impacts of local control.
The group particularly points to the state’s system of addressing income sensitivity regarding education property taxes whereby tax payments are capped for Vermonters earning up to $90,000 a year.
Calla Mandell Wood, left, and her brother Loren get in some sledding at the State House after the public education rally. Photo by Daria Bishop
“A growing share of Vermonters face tax cliffs when their incomes or house values pass certain thresholds. These thresholds have not changed for decades. Updating these thresholds would lower tax bills for more than 50,000 Vermont households this year,” the group notes. It proposes that policymakers revise the thresholds used in the tax calculation to include those earning up to $130,000 annually.
Following the speakers inside the State House, participants – many of whom attended with their children – went outside for cocoa and sledding on the State House grounds.
Watch the State House event with full remarks by all speakers here. Find more information about the public school coalition online at publicschoolsvt.org.
Public Assets Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization in Montpelier that promotes sound state budget, tax, and economic policies.
Waterbury Roundabout is an online news site launched in May 2020. Our mission is to provide readers with news about local government, schools, businesses, community organizations, events and the people who live, work and play in and around the Waterbury region.Thank you for reading!
About Contact
English 
Français