Witnesses urge Senate Education Committee to favor voluntary mergers, supervisory unions and BOCES over forced consolidations
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Summary
Witnesses before the Senate Education Committee argued that Vermont should prioritize voluntary mergers, supervisory unions and regional educational service agencies (BOCES/VTLC) rather than mandated large-district consolidations under Act 73, citing survey responses and claimed cost savings from a newly launched BOCES.
Vermont school leaders and a superintendent told the Senate Education Committee Thursday that voluntary collaboration and regional service agencies should come before any state-mandated district consolidations under Act 73.
Dr. Cheryl Charles and Jeanie Albert, speaking for the Rural School Community Alliance, told the committee they surveyed school board members and administrators about draft redistricting maps tied to Act 73 and found widespread opposition to forced mergers. "There really is no evidence that forced mergers ... will save money or improve educational outcomes," Charles said, urging the committee to favor supervisory unions and voluntary mergers instead.
The alliance reported that roughly 75% of survey respondents were current school board members and that 95% rejected the House map; reactions to the Senate map (Sen. Bob Garrett's map) were about split 50/50. The witnesses said respondents preferred sequencing that builds capacity for shared services — through supervisory unions, BOCES or comprehensive educational service areas — before pursuing district mergers.
"Supervisory unions do demonstrate cost savings and improved educational quality while maintaining community vitality and democratic values," Jeanie Albert said, adding that any district closures should require a local town vote and that voluntary approaches preserve local agency.
Andrew (Andy) Haas, superintendent of the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union, reiterated that the primary goal of governance change should be student benefit and that forced mergers would be "highly disruptive to our students, staff, and communities." Haas described the Vermont Learning Collaborative, the state's first established BOCES, which launched in January 2026, and said his region has already realized efficiencies by sharing services.
Haas attributed specific savings to regional service models: member districts experienced average savings of about 38% on evaluation services, professional-development costs were reduced by an average of 66%, and transportation costs could fall by as much as 85%, he said. He also estimated the VTLC membership serves about 8,000 students. Haas emphasized limits to scale, noting long travel times and the need for assistant or regional superintendents in very large geographic areas.
Committee members pressed witnesses on timing and evidence. One member noted demographic trends and asked whether districts were already using available tools such as BOCES; witnesses replied that uncertainty and repeatedly changing proposals have inhibited broader uptake and that voluntary, evidence-based sequencing could increase adoption.
Witnesses also recommended that the state provide clear data and planning support, including a foundational data-analysis program and a comprehensive performance review of the Agency of Education, before enacting major structural changes. They urged safeguards for non-operating districts and special review for mergers combining very large and very small districts.
The committee did not take formal action during the hearing. Members set aside further time later in the week to receive input specifically from school board members and to continue consideration of the redistricting maps and related language under Act 73.
