[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6248654,"mediaKeyId","3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d","parentId",3209545,"title","Advocate asks committee to clarify moratorium language for converting independent schools","audioSeconds",128,"startMs",1562000,"endMs",1690000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d&start=1562&end=1690","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d/thumbnail_1562000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6248654/Vermont/Advocate-asks-committee-to-clarify-moratorium-language-for-converting-independent-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248654-e50db126b8a74785aeb1f4b9f384f80e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236034&Signature=NTRdu7N-OWFCL2C5C9wP4gGQBEFFLJHGruYsUgSFy4nd1xR1-~C~cIdCCcD29UWdGe1qTIu-v~RAH0NQRiMB-yECf6eRxG5dDxf7nUbvtN-5LpdYWc-XFi3LDlmhs8zQD0IWmYgNaLLeAv878oVHO68gdqe4y0rh1FmGjyrg-lujr82bzazj~XHFm1BmSvFX6bAD0p6fHD7l0swb0ZvXaYExCeHezJDhNfEC-rBY~iqduIVqtm~jTDl3YpOLI-MlpWjB2DeZGFhK07t35JkesT9vf-JZ1aMJcmAJ-9aXNYxNztcoawTw-wS6xrfKiD7j4X4wfJXEmSlaN-R3J7URzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-07T08:05:15Z","article","MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Senate Education Committee on May 6 heard a request to clarify how the 2023 moratorium on new independent schools applies to existing approved schools that convert from for-profit to nonprofit status.

Jody Perchett of the government affairs firm More Strategies testified on behalf of the Mill School, a therapeutic independent school in Bellows Falls (testimony record). Perchett said the school is considering converting from for-profit to nonprofit status and that the current moratorium language is ambiguous about whether such a conversion would cause the school to lose its prior approval. “We’re not trying to undo the moratorium,” Perchett said. “We’re just trying to preserve the schools that are currently in place. And if they wanna change their status, they can do so.”

Committee members asked staff to consult with the Agency of Education and Legislative Council to examine whether the draft language needs a targeted clarification to preserve approvals for existing, approved schools that change corporate status. The committee scheduled further follow-up and testimony on the item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Education 2025-05-06 - 2:30PM","oneSentenceSummary","A representative for a therapeutic independent school asked lawmakers to clarify that converting from for-profit to nonprofit status should not trigger the independent school moratorium, so existing approved schools can change tax status without losing approval.","taxTitle","Education, SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",37663,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6248659,"Panel aligns school library-selection duties and cites Freedom-to-Read statements",75,1408000,1483000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d&start=1408&end=1483","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d/thumbnail_1408000.jpg","/articles/6248659/Vermont/Panel-aligns-school-library-selection-duties-and-cites-Freedom-to-Read-statements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248659-c094f5381a95e851389660c7437fa919/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236034&Signature=FSJITQa1MXjATmRDLT6ddqewPR4KYz7MSljwlSBCfKtnkP3NZzkCNUND7ZBz~JM7zha7jwtQ0dQ-QMH889LaIYQ20On3Lp0IhAonwQuLER2ExytNaRQYN~OK6ZmOMzpRBbP0Vt8jewFF3L72gzdIreJ4fMf-HsZ8g3TFPEqNziFUaicTHBmks0en1VF4DHbBKQefO0XkmHVKxK2-eLKEBwBCA~Qi7UsT0~YsaVztNLwQ~asNIvPRp6QITFpzNPGgShz8wlJ8~d325Fv0toCPMMMHVHVBIgmoER4QbxOgqNiRZij864QRSEfj1qcOvDtaVJ9RwdNPvDxHDjkMUmnCmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Senate Education Committee reviewed a technical amendment on May 6 that clarifies responsibility for school library material policies and procedures and adds references to national and state freedom-to-read statements.

The draft requires that each school board adopt a policy for library material selection, and that each superintendent or head of an approved independent school adopt procedures for reconsideration and retention of materials. The change mirrors parallel language in the committee’s school safety sections that distinguish policy (board responsibility) and procedure (superintendent responsibility).

The amendment also inserts references to the 2002 American Library Association’s Freedom to Read statement and the 2024 Vermont Freedom to Read statement, at the request of the School Boards Association. Sandra Cameron, associate executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association, told the committee she supported the draft language.

Committee members checked off the section during the hearing.","Committee endorsed changes clarifying that school boards set library material policies while superintendents (or heads of independent schools) establish reconsideration and retention procedures; the draft also cites the 2002 ALA Freedom to Read statement and the 2024 Vermont Freedom to Read statement.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6248664,"Committee drops voter-approval trigger for long energy performance contracts",101,1278000,1379000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d&start=1278&end=1379","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d/thumbnail_1278000.jpg","/articles/6248664/Vermont/Committee-drops-voter-approval-trigger-for-long-energy-performance-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248664-8383c094ad918996f796568bb62c1cd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236034&Signature=bB4ys5TUPusoCsL8o7CcroCpQtW53zb1HluOuiW2fQKKcBF0P2MYXplg3lBKXw2Sy0ttq9zh-f0K1XjNwzHz8gsLaXO2ij0o76UYU4L4l1kqXii6nrq03I7nlj8I7gjrbHi4nu1810YEJDmG3wb8irBgvMaoLqjVZYwYED-F-5bMA~eJiuxSyAh5lJdwoCaS9CnLJFk-SLHWBODgnLM2aHjv8BIdxWTkmgf68UAf-KKZtibFXVOzEIOvzEHm4m3yKtTVgizWQyhkHVTOVer51--WP9HsdP1my0E2cpruAU9NA536C2y2MfIDzfJM0uEWyh7AN-6vSkwUHyFm1GKx4g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Senate Education Committee on May 6 reviewed and approved a technical change to the law governing school energy performance contracts, removing a redundant voter-approval threshold.

Beth (Legislative Council staff) explained the existing statute already limits performance contracts to a maximum of 20 years. Previously, the draft required voter approval for contracts longer than 10 years; the committee struck that voter-approval requirement because the statute already caps contracts at 20 years.

Some senators asked whether a 20-year cap might be too short for certain investments with long payback periods — geothermal systems were cited as an example — but the committee did not extend the statutory limit during the hearing. Committee members noted the issue could be revisited in future sessions if stakeholders demonstrate that longer terms are necessary to finance specific technologies.

The committee checked off the section during the meeting and will proceed to collect any additional fiscal or legal clarifications as needed.","The committee agreed to remove a voter-approval requirement for energy performance contracts when the statute already limits contract length to 20 years; members noted longer payback periods on some projects (for example, geothermal) may warrant future review.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6248669,"Committee reviews proposed athletic emergency plans, AED placement and coach training",210,912000,1122000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d&start=912&end=1122","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d/thumbnail_912000.jpg","/articles/6248669/Vermont/Committee-reviews-proposed-athletic-emergency-plans-AED-placement-and-coach-training","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248669-0b82da67586f9553b78a80098cd31a79/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236034&Signature=A0bLTdcxpOipvem4rXynnPCjQpWuVIno8HqmCTBtt8wcPwHRX4w3cTyPFbR718ZDYrrr6XOGvr42kX-7ZUp7LjDs9Wptj1aOcJXeldNmN6nUVzttY9WySy6CP3RDepn2HO0k5By6LwaWx6MlAwKGplk0~KjwmMjJDPAFby6FehN7FwITqKcPLM6BVFjsRaNOHClkiEtNaTud4Uhg5GMVe6CNzuh-fd0Ju2ggGs7qVyG5fKc57xsvOGSX1CExRDIbmET0llIkUrKFuL7OQJ0UQkkDvuEJo~~Anpjb4LCLMpwaO8ne2RNKf~mGQAy4~KsDv0J-rsqHcixwxtausQQGsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Senate Education Committee reviewed changes to school safety language on May 6 that would require public and independent schools with athletic programs to adopt Athletic Emergency Action Plans and to ensure AEDs and training for coaches.

Sophie Sedanik of the Office of Legislative Council told the committee the bill would require each public and independent school with an athletic department to “establish and annually review an Athletic Emergency Action Plan, an AEAP, that shall detail the steps to be taken in response to a serious or life threatening injury of a student participating in sports or other athletic events.” The AEAP must be consistent with the guidance of the Vermont Principals Association.

The draft also adds a requirement that AED placement plans “include a requirement for clearly marked and easily accessible AEDs at each athletic venue where practices or competitions are held,” and would require all athletic coaches to “obtain and maintain training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid, and the use of an AED.”

Tina Zu of the American Heart Association told the committee staff that the AEAP language aligns terminology used in athletics with school-level cardiac emergency planning: “Same plan, but just it's just spelled out more clearly — one for schools, one for sports,” she said, describing the drafting approach.

Committee members asked for clarification about what level of first-aid training the language requires; witnesses said the underlying principals association guidance includes the first-aid requirement but that the draft does not define the level of first-aid training. The committee asked staff to follow up with athletic trainers (witnesses mentioned a Kyle Peckham) and others who testified previously to provide more detailed information on the scope of required first-aid training.

The committee indicated it will accept further testimony on the section at an upcoming hearing before taking final action.","Draft language would require public and independent schools with athletic programs to adopt annually reviewed Athletic Emergency Action Plans (AEAPs), consistent with the Vermont Principals Association, require AED placement at athletic venues, and mandate CPR, first aid and AED training for coaches.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6248674,"Senate panel hears proposals to change arbitration for school employee health benefits",2182,101000,2283000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d&start=101&end=2283","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209545-17c3bc4c4d76fc853b6b31d0e4f24c5d/thumbnail_101000.jpg","/articles/6248674/Vermont/Senate-panel-hears-proposals-to-change-arbitration-for-school-employee-health-benefits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248674-af6a32fafd9fcbbf6483e336b5e308b5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776236034&Signature=S7nPdBmOvXPMo0SyTo~zHjnTp2JSah-97HQc~o0ZPlr4X6v7Oq4yYnPFiT1JTmYIsWdKJYq6lI-yDVMC1wdzdfCJC4ZIXFqZx9YLu7SoNW7Z7ZSqhVWme9Y9lJ~sNUj~DRTGP8i6csr2RHxiybgqEtp2mCe6ZyF-yki4Q0a61Onotzel8HQurJjDWjqqleHP1uS8YSnX5tZVBsaEWqjKHKLaFGOIKC975NXIYVGiUkwMqL79xelt9bqmvYO7nPqe4zDHZb360rOTihbwm~g0Dk~Xj~bvE34K-azZagewJ55Gh4ybBALIXOd2Y4TeboT8ekmjgUH-c3DlnRwuGcFa0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Senate Education Committee on May 6 considered draft changes to the state’s process for resolving impasses over public school employees’ health benefits, including permission for arbitrators to select parts of competing final offers and two new factors for arbitrators to weigh.

Supporters, led by the Vermont School Boards Association, told the committee that rising health insurance costs are crowding out school budgets and that the arbitration process should allow more nuanced outcomes. “Health insurance is expensive,” said Sue Zaglowski, executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association. Zaglowski urged allowing arbitrators to “select between the last best offer of each party on an issue by issue basis with or without amendment,” language the VSBA requested be added to draft 10.1 of H.480.

The VSBA asked the committee to add two factors for arbitrators to consider: how the value of school employees’ health benefits compares with plans available through Vermont Health Connect, and the percentage increase or decrease in education spending likely to result from each party’s last best offer compared with statewide economic growth.

Those proposals drew strong pushback from education stakeholders. “We do not support the changes how teachers and school boards bargain for health care,” said Jeff Fanning, executive director of Vermont VA (testimony record). Fanning argued reopening the bargaining framework would “introduce unrest” into an already stressed educator workforce and said current law already provides processes and opportunities to present the data arbitrators need.

Committee members and witnesses discussed several factual details during the hearing. Witnesses said the statewide bargaining structure established by Act 11 of 2018 created a Commission on Public School Employees’ Health Benefits made up of five employer and five employee representatives; the current premium split under the statewide agreement is about 80% paid by school boards and 20% by employees. Witnesses reported roughly 34,000 covered lives under the statewide arrangement and roughly 8,300 teachers covered directly (estimates provided in testimony). Witnesses also described how health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and actuarial “induced utilization” affect plan pricing.

Opponents warned that allowing arbitrators to mix and match elements from competing offers could produce incoherent or unworkable benefit packages and might shift costs toward individual employees. “If you have the arbitrator selecting a sentence out of this last best offer and a sentence out of that one, you could end up with really incoherent health care arrangements for both school boards and employees that neither side contemplated,” Fanning said.

Committee members debated whether the two additional nonbinding factors would simply prompt better evidence in arbitration or would bias the process. Some senators said the factors were reasonable informational points for an arbitrator to consider; others said the language was imprecise (for example, whether “overall economic growth” meant state GDP) and asked for further refinement and stakeholder discussion.

The committee did not adopt any final change during the hearing. Members scheduled additional testimony and asked staff to invite representatives from the Agency of Education, VHII, pleaders for reference-based pricing and the Green Mountain Care Board to provide more detail at later sessions. The committee also discussed informal stakeholder conversations, including possible joint work with the Green Mountain Care Board to identify systemwide cost drivers.

Next steps: the committee will hear more witnesses at follow-up meetings before deciding whether to include the arbitration language in a final bill or to refer stakeholders to an outside study or negotiated agreement.","Lawmakers and education groups debated draft language that would let arbitrators mix elements of competing last-best offers and add two factors for consideration — moves supporters say could curb rising school health costs and opponents say could unsettle bargaining and raise costs for employees.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Advocate asks committee to clarify moratorium language for converting independent schools

Panel aligns school library-selection duties and cites Freedom-to-Read statements

Committee drops voter-approval trigger for long energy performance contracts

Committee reviews proposed athletic emergency plans, AED placement and coach training

Senate panel hears proposals to change arbitration for school employee health benefits