On June 30, 2016

Local student named to state board of education

By Stephen Seitz

KILLINGTON — Connor Solimano, of Rutland, has been named as a student member of the Vermont State Board of Education.

“I’m excited to be a part of the board, and I hope to bring my perspective as a student,” Connor Solimano said. “We’re all pretty excited. My parents are proud.”

Connor’s father, Mike Solimano, is the CEO of Killington Mountain Resort.

Come fall, Connor Solimano will be a junior at Rutland High. He has been active in student government, where he was elected class secretary for his sophomore and junior years. He is also a student member of the Rutland City Public Schools board.

Connor Solimano
CONNOR SOLIMANO

“I went into this with low expectations,” Connor Solimano said of his bid for the seat on the Vermont State Board of Education. “I had no idea of the size of the pool of applicants. It’s been a while since we’ve had a member from the southern part of the state. The student members are usually from the cities in the north.”

There are two student seats on the state board. Student representatives serve for two years. While they don’t get a vote the first year, they do get a vote the second. In the official announcement, Gov. Peter Shumlin said he was impressed with the students who applied.

“The pool of applicants was amazing this year, and I want thank all of the students who took the time to apply,” Shumlin said in his announcement. “Connor is a rising star who has impressively served his community and has volunteered countless hours to make a difference at Rutland High School. I am confident he will bring fresh perspective to the Board, and am honored to have appointed him as the student representative to the State Board of Education.”

Solimano replied, “I am looking forward to learning more about our educational programs in Vermont, and I am interested in understanding how our local issues relate to statewide challenges. I hope to bring a new perspective to the board through my experiences as a student and community member. I know there are a lot of changes happening in Vermont relating to our educational system, and I am excited to have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the future of education in our state,” according to a news release.

Solimano said he is joining the state board without an agenda.

“I wouldn’t say I have anything specific in mind,” he said. “I’m sure it will be just like my local board. We’ll keep the board members up on what students are doing currently, and we get to speak. The students have sometimes persuaded the board. Everyone has something positive to contribute.”

While he has taken on these early leadership roles, Solimano said he does not see public service necessarily as a career choice for himself.

“I enjoy math and science,” he said. “I’m pretty proficient. I think I’d like to do something in the engineering field.”

More information about the state board of education can be found at education.vermont.gov/state-board.

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Pride in Rutland: Flags, resistance, and showing up

June 25, 2025
By Emily Pratt Slatin Pride returned to downtown Rutland this June with more color, noise, and purpose than ever before. What began as a joyful celebration quickly became something deeper—something that felt like resistance. And belonging. And a promise that no one in this community has to stand alone. The day kicked off with the…

Plan to manage 72,000 acres of the Telephone Gap project is finalized

June 25, 2025
Staff report The U.S. Forest Service issued its final plan for managing 72,000 acres of public and private land on June 16. The proposed Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project area is located on the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) within the towns of Brandon, Chittenden, Goshen, Killington, Mendon, Pittsfield, Pittsford, and Stockbridge. “The Telephone Gap project is…

Hot air balloons took flight over Quechee

June 25, 2025
By James Kent This past weekend, June 21-22, people came from all over New England to participate in the 45th annual Hot Air Balloon Festival. Music, food, games, and fun were available for all ages throughout the weekend, but the main attraction was the hot air balloons. And for those looking to see these gigantic,…

Killington residents push for skate park as town reimagines recreation future 

June 25, 2025
By Greta Solsaa/VTDigger As Killington celebrates the 50th anniversary of its recreation center, some residents are pushing to make a skate park a new permanent fixture of the town’s summer offerings.  The town crafted its recreation master plan to holistically determine how to best use its resources to serve residents in the future, Recreation Department Director Emily Hudson…