Cillo: Vermont is getting its money’s worth
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Paul A. Cillo, president of Public Assets Institute, a nonpartisan nonprofit in Montpelier. He lives in Hardwick. This piece originally appeared in the Vermont...
View ArticlePoor Elijah’s Almanack: Consolidation – the costly fiction
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Peter Berger, an English teacher at Weathersfield School, who writes “Poor Elijah’s Almanack.” The column appears in several publications, including the Times...
View ArticleJohn McClaughry: When imagination fails, raise school property taxes
Editor’s note: This commentary is by John McClaughry, the vice president of the Ethan Allen Institute. The heavily Democratic Vermont House has passed a bill (H.889) designed to squeeze out enough new...
View ArticleWindsor Central in school consolidation talks
Editor’s note: This article is by Matt Hongoltz-Hetling of the Valley News, in which it was first published Oct. 7, 2014. WOODSTOCK — Residents at a public discussion Monday night about a major...
View ArticleWilliam J. Mathis: School funding – gimmicks and fixes
This commentary is by William J. Mathis, who is the managing director of the National Education Policy Center, a former school superintendent and a member of the Vermont State Board of Education. He...
View ArticleJohn McClaughry: When imagination fails, raise school property taxes
Editor’s note: This commentary is by John McClaughry, the vice president of the Ethan Allen Institute. The heavily Democratic Vermont House has passed a bill (H.889) designed to squeeze out enough new...
View ArticleWindsor Central in school consolidation talks
Editor’s note: This article is by Matt Hongoltz-Hetling of the Valley News, in which it was first published Oct. 7, 2014. WOODSTOCK — Residents at a public discussion Monday night about a major...
View ArticleWilliam J. Mathis: School funding – gimmicks and fixes
This commentary is by William J. Mathis, who is the managing director of the National Education Policy Center, a former school superintendent and a member of the Vermont State Board of Education. He...
View ArticleLawmakers address pre-K glitch that could affect tax rates
Lawmakers advanced a bill Tuesday that would make a one-time change to education law to ensure pre-kindergarten pupils are counted accurately for the purposes of funding. Because of a delay in...
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State board struggles to bring public, private schools together
Members of the State Board of Education have found some common ground as they consider proposed changes to draft rules for private schools wanting to receive public tuition dollars. But open enrollment...
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Brigham milestone finds school funding under new pressure
Gov. Phil Scott delivers his budget address, in which he proposed a freeze on state funding for K-through-12 education. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDiggerTwo decades after a court decision that...
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Lawmakers beat up on education tax system while setting rates
A school bus rolls down a Vermont country road. File photo by Cate Chant/VTDiggerThe House voted on statewide education tax rates for the next fiscal year Wednesday amid confusion by members trying to...
View ArticleJanet Ancel: Proposal aims for fairness, transparency in education financing
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Rep. Janet Ancel, a Democrat of Calais, who is chair of the House Ways and Means Committee of the Vermont House of Representatives. Vermont has a unique system of...
View ArticleMargaret Maclean: Local control of schools is crucial
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Margaret Maclean, of Peacham, who is an international education consultant, a Vermont principal of the year and a former member of the Vermont State Board of...
View ArticleScudder Parker: Education funding reform must be equitable
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Scudder Parker, of Middlesex, who is a former Vermont state senator and former chair of the Senate Finance Committee. He was the Democratic nominee for governor in...
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Margolis: Scott’s epistemological view sells short local voters
Gov. Phil Scott fields questions about his school finance proposal last Thursday. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger Could Gov. Phil Scott have raised an epistemological question the other day? Yes, that...
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Margolis: Politicians need to get on with it, or hire a better drama coach
Following last year’s budget battle, Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe, along with Gov. Phil Scott and House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, announce the deal reached between the Legislature and the...
View ArticleJohn Freitag: Cleverness has its consequences
Editor’s note: This commentary is by John Freitag, of Strafford, who is past president of the Newton School PTA, Newton School facilities manager for 33 years (retired) and current member of the...
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Margolis: Scott’s surrender is no victory for Statehouse leaders
Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe talks about procedures for the special session with Gov. Phil Scott and Sen. Becca Balint, D-Windham. Photo by Mike Dougherty/VTDigger Now that it’s all over, two...
View ArticleJack Hoffman: Property tax is what’s wrong with school taxes
Editor’s note: This commentary is by Jack Hoffman, a policy analyst for Public Assets Institute, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in Montpelier. It was a messy finish to a messy legislative...
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