Rural School Community Alliance urges slower, community-led approach to Vermont school consolidation and funding reform

Members of the Rural School Community Alliance told the Vermont Education Committee on April 8 that proposed rapid changes to school governance and funding could harm rural students and communities and urged the committee to slow down and base decisions on Vermont-specific research.

The testimony centered on two themes: preserving local schools and community voice, and redesigning the funding formula with clear accountability and public engagement. "The first guiding principle is that young children should be educated close to home," said Margaret MacLean, a lifelong educator and a member of the Alliance, adding that the group opposes "regional elementary schools of 300 or 150 students" that are disconnected from communities.

The Alliance, which members said formed in January and currently represents about 80 towns with additional towns considering membership, asked lawmakers to independently evaluate past governance changes such as Act 46 and other laws that have reshaped school structure and spending. "There hasn't been sufficient external evaluation of the impact of those laws," MacLean said, urging a careful review before enacting broad governance changes.

Jamie Kena…