The Vermont Senate Education Committee held its inaugural meeting and set a preliminary schedule of briefings and multi-day hearings next week to align work on education finance and student outcomes with the Senate Finance Committee and state education officials, committee members said.

The committee agreed to meet at 1:30 p.m. for now, with a possible shift to 1 p.m. under discussion. Members said they will convene a lunch briefing on Tuesday to bring the full panel up to speed on work completed in prior years, then hold joint or closely coordinated sessions Wednesday through Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the pavilion with the secretary of education and representatives from the finance committee.

The plan is intended to let members examine both financing and quality issues together rather than treating them as separate debates. Committee members identified topics for early attention, including literacy, regional education service structures (BOCES), and how finance proposals affect student outcomes and taxpayers. Several senators said recent remarks by the governor and the secretary of education have accelerated interest in quickly reviewing proposals and costs.

Senator Steve Efferman of Madison County described his interest in doing “whatever I can to help our youth” and emphasized constituent priorities for education. Senator David Weeks of Rowland County said the committee needs to determine whether the “movement” on education policy is appropriate and whether the costs are justified following recent state-level speeches. Several members said they want close coordination with the Senate Finance Committee as the work proceeds.

Staff and support arrangements were also discussed: legislative staff will provide briefing materials, and committee members were told the room is shared with the Senate Agriculture Committee in the mornings. Staff indicated where they will be available in the building (through the House code room requiring an access badge) for follow-up.

Next steps listed by the committee are: distribute written materials before Tuesday’s lunch briefing, hold the Tuesday briefing to review prior committee work on literacy and finance, then proceed to the three days of hearings Wednesday through Friday at the 1:30 p.m. start time unless members vote to change it.

The meeting focused on organizing the committee’s schedule and priorities; there were no formal votes or legislative actions recorded at the inaugural session.