Education

I believe deeply in the value of public education as a product of that system and as a parent of three CVSD students. Our top priority must be delivering high‑quality learning opportunities for every student while keeping costs manageable. The “system” is too big for its number of pupils at present. Vermont’s real challenge sits at the crossroads of sustainable funding, quality education, and equity. Health care costs represent a major culprit of the education cost cliff we are standing on today.

Act 73 attempts to address some of these issues by shifting to a statewide funding formula that allocates resources based on a base dollar amount plus student need. While this approach aims to level the playing field, it also reduces local control and risks underfunding education, especially in Chittenden County.

My three children, niece, and nephews have accumulated over fifty years in Vermont’s public schools, and many of my patients attend them as well. Our educators understand their work and know our children. Vermont must support them in meeting student needs, rather than talk over them at the policy table.

There are several practical steps we can take to strengthen our education system that are not addressed by Act 73: stabilize rising health insurance costs, ease the financial pressure on average Vermont taxpayers, increase taxes on nicotine products, end programs that divert resources away from our own local schools, and enforce the minimum class size requirements outlined in Act 73. At a minimum, small districts should be required to share resources through Cooperative Education Service Areas (CESA) and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) while exploring long‑term consolidation options. In addition, we must take a hard look at the administrative bureaucracy surrounding education to identify opportunities to streamline costs.

Many schools in our towns already serve as strong models for the rest of the state. Any changes we pursue should be guided by two core goals: 1) improve learning outcomes and ensure every child has the foundation they need to succeed, and 2) reduce the financial burden on taxpayers.

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