Hope, Reservations, and a Few Defeatists: Vermont's Education Redistricting Panel Kicks Off Its Work

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The eleven Vermonters tasked with redrawing the state's entire educational map began their monumental work on Friday, bringing a complex mix of hope, deep-seated skepticism, and the long shadow of past reform efforts to the first meeting of the School District Redistricting Task Force.

The panel, created under the sweeping education reform law known as Act 73, has just four months to propose new, much larger school districts for the legislature to consider in January. The law envisions a radical overhaul of a system that has been in place for over a century, a challenge that members acknowledged is both necessary and fraught with peril.

"This is a two-year work job being consolidated into four months," said Rep. Edye Graning, a Jericho Democrat who was elected co-chair of the panel alongside Sen. Martine Larocque Gulick, a Chittenden County Democrat. "And so we will do the best we can with the time that we have."

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A Mandate for Radical Change

The task force's mandate is to propose configurations for new school districts with between 4,000 and 8,000 students each. This marks a seismic shift from Vermont's current structure of 118 school districts, many with fewer than a few hundred students, organized under 51 supervisory unions. The goal of Act 73 is to create a more equitable, efficient, and sustainable public education system.

However, the path to that goal is paved with political and practical challenges. Communities across the state fiercely guard local control of their schools, and the prospect of consolidation has ignited anxieties, particularly in rural areas, about school closures, long bus rides, and the loss of community identity. According to materials presented at the meeting, the panel must weigh these concerns against the state's hilly geography, the condition of its aging school buildings, and the perennially divisive issue of school choice.

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Not Every Panel Member is Up for the Task

The ghost of Act 46, the state's last major school consolidation effort a decade ago, was palpable in the room. That law's mixed results and controversial implementation have bred a healthy skepticism, even among those who believe in the need for reform.

This was most evident in the comments of Rep. Rebecca Holcombe, a Norwich Democrat who, as the state's former Secretary of Education, steered the implementation of Act 46. She called the current effort "the biggest governance reform in one hundred and something years," but immediately questioned the state's ability to handle it. "It's pretty clear we are not capable of doing what we already have on our plate," Holcombe told her colleagues, alluding to other reform initiatives that have stalled for lack of follow-through.

Co-chair Larocque Gulick, a retired teacher who voted against Act 73, also expressed caution. She told reporters after the meeting that her expectations are "probably realistic and low" that lawmakers will agree on new maps in an election year. Her opposition to the bill, according to her public statements, stemmed from concerns that the reform process was rushed, legislatively driven rather than community-led, and could expand the use of public funds for private schools.

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A Chorus of Constructive Voices

Despite the cautionary notes, the narrative of the first meeting was far from a uniform chorus of doubt. A significant portion of the panel, comprised of retired superintendents, finance directors, and former school board members, voiced a strong commitment to tackling the challenge head-on.

• Dave Wolk, a former state education commissioner appointed to the panel by Gov. Phil Scott, acknowledged the difficulty but stressed the mission's importance. The work, he said in a statement upon his appointment, "must be done thoughtfully, with a focus on what is best for all of our students and educators, as well as Vermont taxpayers."

• Dr. Jennifer Botzojorns, a retired superintendent from a rural district, said she was "honored and excited" to serve and contribute to "shaping options for the future of Vermont's public education system."

• Chris Locarno, a retired director of finance for the Lamoille North Supervisory Union, stated his commitment to "helping find practical, equitable solutions that serve students, families, and communities across the state."

• Kim Gleason, a former member of the State Board of Education, expressed her gratitude for the chance to "represent the important voices of school boards in governance and community engagement."

This diversity of perspective suggests a panel that is not necessarily against reform, but one that is acutely aware of the complexities and determined to get it right.

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Navigating the Political Landscape

The task force's work will not happen in a vacuum. It will be influenced by a complex political landscape and the watchful eyes of numerous interest groups. The Rural School Community Alliance (RSCA) has expressed "cautious hope" for the process but is advocating strongly for recommendations that protect small community schools from closure. Meanwhile, the powerful Vermont-NEA teachers' union is monitoring the process closely, with a focus on ensuring that any changes benefit students and educators directly.

The panel's composition also reflects the state's political dynamics. Sen. Scott Beck, the Senate Minority Leader and a Caledonia County Republican, was a key supporter of Act 73. He reminded the panel Friday that "we're making a recommendation here. We're not imposing anything on the state of Vermont," a statement that underscores the political tightrope the panel must walk.

The work ahead is immense, and the timeline is aggressive. The task force must balance the law's ambitious vision with the practical realities and deep-seated values of a state that cherishes its local schools. As the panel moves forward, its success will depend on its ability to forge consensus from this wide array of experience, expertise, and expectation.