"Having a benchmark, setting a goal, trying to be more efficient so we get more services to kids, it's a good thing."
- Commissioner Richard Cate
Message from the Chairman
By Curtis G. Hier
Last year, our organization promoted a benchmark of 65 percent for education expenditures to go to direct instruction. We got 28 legislators to sign on to a non-binding resolution encouraging schools to meet the threshold. We still believe 65 percent is a good benchmark. But we faced a wall of opposition from the education lobby.
This year, our approach will be different. We aim to inform and empower voters so that they can adopt and enforce whatever benchmark they think is the right one. It is important to have a benchmark so that voters can measure the efficiency and effectiveness of their school spending by measuring against comparable school districts.
The education lobby? Well, we'll see if they have the audacity to oppose our measures to inform and empower voters. We'll see if they dare oppose democratic reforms.
We do not think it's right that voters in supervisory unions cannot vote on supervisory union central office budgets. We do not think it's right that voters can see percentages going to direct instruction for 2005 but not for 2008. And we plan on shaking up Montpelier until these things change.
Please join us. Download the petition. It's in Word format. Bring copies to your local store or restaurant.
Call your legislator. Write letters to the newspaper. Get involved.
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2007-08 Legislation We Support ...
HR.12, co-sponsored by 27 Republicans, which is a non-binding resolution to encourage school districts to devote no more than 35 percent of their expenditures to non-classroom expenses, such as administration.
An amendment proposed by Senator Kevin Mullin (R-Rutland) to require school districts to include in their annual reports what percentages of the budget are devoted to direct instruction and other categories.
H.723, a bill sponsored by Rep. Komline (R-Dorset) to provide school choice to harassment and bullying victims. We feel this would be a good start in expanding school choice opportunities.
H.725, a bill sponsored by Rep. Komline (R-Dorset) to allow citizens to vote on supervisory union budgets separately and directly. Currently $120 million of public K-12 spending doesn't get voted on. In Bennington, it's $14 million. In Brandon, it's $8 million. Superintendents are starting to funnel expenses through their offices, traditionally funded through schools, just to get around voting.
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2007-08 Legislation We Oppose ...
H.640, a bill sponsored by Rep. Pugh (D-S. Burlington) to require all teachers to take a 3-credit post-graduate course in African-American history as a condition of licensure and re-licensure. We do, however, support racial awareness as part of in-service harassment/bullying training.
All unreasonable mandates on our school systems.
Repealing Act 82 "two-votes" without a significant alternative.
All gimmicks, lip service, and non-serious attempts to address the need for school quality or school finance reform.
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"I think there's a value to looking at where we are spending money in Vermont and is it in the classroom -- or proportionally in the classroom -- and what proportionally is not."
- Speaker Gaye Symington
What's the House Education Committee Up to This Week?
Keep Tabs on the HEC
and also the Senate Education Committee
Requiring direct instruction numbers in annual budget reports.
Read what
the Commissioner says. Look for upcoming legislation!
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The Special Education Bridge to Nowhere
... In special education, while there are dedicated professionals and certainly pockets of success throughout Vermont, there are plenty of examples to be found of inefficient spending and poor results. And looking at the results statewide, it appears that we're building a virtual bridge to nowhere.
( Read More )
Rutland Herald, December 20, 2007
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Stop writing your superintendent a blank check!
Over $120 million of school spending doesn't get voted on! Support S.175 "to require that the voters in each member district of a supervisory union have an opportunity to vote on the supervislory union budget."
Read full text of bill here. text of S.175
Download the petition. It's in Word format. Bring copies to your local store or restaurant.
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Who pays your superintendent's and school board members' dues?
The Vermont Superintendent's Association and Vermont School Boards Association are two powerful lobbying groups that have opposed Act 82 and other measures to give local voters more power to bring spending under control. It's their right to do such lobbying -- unless their dues money comes from taxpayers.
At the next school meeting, ask: "Who's paying your dues?"
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