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Act 73 Testimony to the Senate Committee on Education by Elaine Collins, NCSU Superintendent of Schools

NEK Day at the Statehouse, January 22, 2026

“The picture I’m painting is the current reality in our schools.”

Hello,

For the record, I am Elaine Collins, and I’m in my fourth year as the superintendent of North Country Supervisory Union in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, my 15th as a school administrator, and 36th year working in Northeast Kingdom Schools. The 14 towns in my supervisory union are Brighton, Charleston, Coventry, Derby, Holland, Jay, Lowell, Morgan, Newport City, Newport Town, Troy, and Westfield. We range about 65 miles from one end to another and have 520 square miles. We have approximately 2,630 students in NCSU.

First, please bear with me as I set some context for my comments, because as you know, context matters. I know you all know these things, but I want to remind us of what our current reality is. In the Governor’s budget address, he spoke about the increased effects of housing insecurities, drug addiction, mental health challenges, criminal offenders, and a lack of accountability. I would ask all of you to consider that many Vermonters who are experiencing these issues may also have children who attend our schools.

If you are a child whose parents struggle with mental health, drug addiction, and violence, you will likely have more challenges in school than a more typically developing child who isn’t exposed to those difficulties. Do the children of these folks need more? Obviously yes. Do they deserve to realize their potential and possibilities? Also, obviously yes.

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