Education groups tell Senate committee consolidation, funding and governance changes risk harm without more analysis

Representatives of Vermont school governance organizations told the Senate Education Committee on Feb. 28 that Governor Scott’s education transformation proposal raises serious questions about local control, funding sufficiency and the state’s capacity to implement large-scale governance changes.

Sue Slawski, executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association, told the committee that the plan’s governance piece “decreases the number of school districts from 109 to 5,” and would reduce statewide school board service from about 900 members to 25, a change she said would “politicize school boards” and make service accessible only to those who can afford part‑time public service. “These highly competitive races will introduce money into public education governance in a manner never before seen in our state,” Slawski said.

The Vermont Principals Association’s executive director, Jay Nichols, cautioned lawmakers to “first, do no harm,” urging the Legislature not to rush fiscal changes without modeling unintended consequences. Nichols said a foundation formula layered on the current system without governance or scale changes could result in net cuts to student services. He also flagged disparities in teacher compensation across the state and said consolidation into very large districts would complicate contract harmonization and local decision‑making.

Dr. Phil Gore, chief learning officer for the Idaho School Boards Association and a former director of board services for the Vermont School Boards Association, cited national research including the Iowa “Lighthouse”…