On March 23, 2016

Act 46 school choice implications leave confusion

By Michael Bielawski, Vermont Watchdog

Representatives and concerned citizens gathered at the State House on Thursday, March 17, to study the continued impact of Act 46 on school choice in Vermont.

The legislation was pitched last year largely on the notion that Vermont’s school choice would be left undisturbed. However, as non-operating choice districts begin merging with operating districts school choice is being eliminated, as has happened in Elmore and Westford.

“I know that Act 46 says nothing in this act is going to make you give up your choice, but in fact we’ve found that’s not the way it is working,” state Rep. Cynthia Browning, D-Arlington, said at the meeting. Browning proposed an amendment, unsuccessfully, to the House Education Committee to allow schools to maintain choice while merging under Act 46.

State Rep. Mike Hebert, R-Vernon, represents a town that is in a unique situation regarding school choice and Act 46. In 1954, Vernon’s Brattleboro High School was allowed to have school choice despite joining a union school district. Hebert says that situation is now in jeopardy.

“What’s come into play now is if we do this new unified district [to conform to Act 46], if someone launches a legal challenge in that district challenging why we get school choice, there’s an equity issue,” he said. “We’re not sure that a court is going to have our historic and traditional values, and our legal precedents, outweigh what the equity would be.” He added that Act 46 is too ambiguous. “Part of the problem is, I’ve gone to several different study committees now and everyone has a different opinion of what things in the bill mean,” he said.

Under Act 46, the state uses tax breaks to incentivize districts to merge. Districts that comply reap the best rewards. If districts choose to do nothing, they can still apply for an alternative structure agreement or seek exemptions. Districts that fail to find merger partners, or intentionally choose not to consolidate, must demonstrate that their services are necessary and meet standards set by Act 46.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

The state of real estate

February 12, 2025
  By Katy Savage   The local housing market picked up considerably after a slow start to 2024. Limited inventory remained a major driving factor with the total number of units sold up slightly by 1.9% across Rutland County and slightly down in the Upper Valley -3.5%, according to a regional analysis by Sotheby’s International Realty.…

Mountain Green condos $48m renovations is underway

February 12, 2025
By Polly Mikula Mountain Green Condominium Association, a 45-year-old, 215-unit association with a restaurant, spa, gym and two pools located across from Snowshed Lodge on East Mountain Road, is embarking on a $48 million renovation.  The renovations, under DEW Construction Corporation, will take about 2 1/2 years to complete. Work began in 2023 and is…

local furniture company is the go-to for high-end finishes in model homes

February 12, 2025
By Polly Mikula Steve Malone, developer of the new Base Camp at Bear Mountain townhomes, says all his model homes are decorated by Pompanoosuc Mills furniture, (a.k.a. “Pompy”) based in Thetford, Vermont. “It’s delux, Vermont-made furniture and a wonderful local company,” Malone said. “I’ve used Pompy for all of my model homes and many owners…

Base Camp at Bear Mountain plans to begin vertical construction this fall

February 12, 2025
By Polly Mikula Twenty-four 4-bedroom, 4-bath duplex townhouses with attached 2-car garages are underway at Bear Mountain in Killington. All of the townhomes will have ski-in ski-out access on the Bear Cub Trail. Site clearing for the new slope side duplex development at Killington Resort’s Bear Mountain began this past October and will resume with…