Citizen Portal
Sign In

Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!

Superintendents tell joint education committees to prioritize funding, not just redistricting maps

Joint House and Senate Education Committees · January 13, 2026
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Superintendents from across Vermont urged the joint House and Senate Education Committees to emphasize predictable, equitable school funding and careful implementation of Act 73 rather than rushing to redraw district maps. Witnesses called for district‑level fiscal modeling, transition resources, and phased changes to protect students and communities.

Tim Paine, superintendent of the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union, told the joint House and Senate Education Committees that lawmakers should "set aside the map discussion and focus on how we pay for school." Paine described his district's challenges—about 3,100 students, high free and reduced‑price meal rates and rising mental‑health needs—and said the current funding system is confusing to residents. He warned that unspecified accounting changes leave taxpayers mystified and recommended a budget process that tells districts how much money is available up front so local leaders can prioritize spending.

Sherry Souz…

Already have an account? Log in

Subscribe to keep reading

Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.

  • Unlimited articles
  • AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
  • Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
  • Follow topics and more locations
  • 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
30-day money-back on paid plans