Coming Soon To A Town Near You

The resolution suggests the Administration, Legislature, and Vermonters discuss the advantages and disadvantages of breaking away from Act 60/68 and consider moving in one of two directions.

The first would be to establish a public education system that is governed, managed, and primarily financed locally. The second option is for the state to finance and take control of the public education system.             

 Manchester Journal

 
 

Comments

[G. Cross]

The Vermont Coalition of Municipalities fought the creation of Act 60. They attacked the revision of Act 60 known as Act 68. They have advocated for years a return to an educational system that allows the "haves to keep and the have nots not to get." VCM has failed each time and there is little to suggest that they will be successful this time.

There may be something new in their current call for a statewide school district, if they really believe that such is an alternative. But be careful what you wish for. One collective bargaining contract for school employees across the state would hand the NEA considerably more power than it current has and will add millions to the cost of public education in the state just to equalize salaries and benefits.

There may be a better way to "equalize educational opportunity" for all Vermont's children. A continuing discussion towards that end is a creditable activity. Unfortuantely, VMC appears to start this latest attack by setting out the two alternatives that are at the opposite ends of the spectrum. Somewhere in the middle there may be a better way.

[Retta Dunlap]

Anonymous - I do not know about George but I would like to read this white paper.

Finding out who to contact is turning out to be a major research project. The group, Vermont Coalition of Municipalities, does not appear to have a web site. The article mentions Pete Webster and there are two of them at swtichboard.com. I then went to the Secretary of State’s web site and looked up the corporate information. Apparently, “Vermont Coalition of Municipalities” is a tradename owned by “Vermont Foundation for Equal Educational Opportunity, Inc.” which also does not have a web site that I can find. The registered agent is David Lewis with a PO Box.

Would you happen to have an email address for them?
Thanks

[G. Cross]

I, too tried to find the white paper on line but failed. Seems the white paper is being kept in the dark. Interesting!

[G. Cross]

I have read what has generously been called "the white paper." Let's see if I can figure this out. The same group that has gone to court, gone to the legislature and gone to the media many times each and has absolutely nothing to show for it, now wants to convince people that they know how to frame the discussion about education finance in Vermont. Well, I suspect you will all be as successful as you have been in the past.

[Jeffrey Pascoe]

Vermont Coalition of Municipalities:

Frank P. Wingate 63 Lakeshore Drive Ludlow, VT 05149 Phone: (802) 228-7601 Fax: (802) 228-7601