Vermont Superintendent's Association Member Meeting Reflection

Dan French, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Education, spoke to many Vermont Superintendents Thursday January 17, 2019. Mr. French highlighted his perspectives on educational issues that affect communities statewide, and in conclusion, believes that the Vermont education system is overly complex for its size and total number of students. He believes that the complexity of the system interferes with the ability to ensure quality and equity to all students. In addition, he believes the current system is inefficient in addressing a population that is declining and Vermont public school numbers have reduced.

Mr. French proposed the Greatly Simplified School District model, which ultimately would be one school district for the entire state. Other topics were explored, but superintendents were left uneasy and held a passionate conversation around the GSSD model. The purpose of this model is not only designed to simplify the school system in Vermont, but also to “meet unmet needs”. The “unmet needs” that the agency of education highlights in their January report include: encouraging student voice, increasing public engagement in student outcomes, supporting open education and open curriculum processes, and giving schools more resources for communications and outreach.

The report released in January can be read here

Other benefits in regards to positive community engagement can be viewed below

 





I am not entirely sure what the implications would be, but some believe it would create a more organized and coherent allocation of funds towards education, paralleled with funds from Human Services to create a more equitable educational experience for all Vermont students. Act 46, the previous governance reform on education that consolidated schools, has already produced outrage and lawsuits from communities, and many believe this proposal would exponentially increase those concerns.