If Vermont were a School… (revisited)
VREC Echo Newsletter
Spring 2024: Pathways
If Vermont were a School… (revisited)
If Vermont were a school, it would be a small school. Challenged by limited resources, absent an economy of scale and perceived lacking equity of opportunity when compared to other “schools.” Some would consider Vermont isolated, provincial, defining us as “rural” in a disparaging way, and dependent on external resources.
I first penned an op ed title “If Vermont were a School…” back in February of 2015. Now, nine years later, closing small schools is once again being suggested as a measure of fiscal austerity given Vermont’s most recent concerns with education funding. It is necessary that we make some difficult decisions regarding how we fund education across our state. It will require shared responsibility at both the State and local levels. However, widespread closure of small schools is neither a reasonable nor effective response.
It is often presented that small schools in Vermont have unrealistically small class sizes, are high spending and a drain on our education fund. It is also suggested that small schools have limited opportunities for students to help justify consolidation. Small schools provide learning opportunities that are sometimes different, but not necessarily lesser in value or quality. Often small schools can provide the kind of environment and learning opportunities that large schools cannot easily, or cost effectively, provide. Many small Vermont schools demonstrate evidence of exceptional opportunities and outcomes for students, while not necessarily spending more per-pupil than larger schools. Research has shown that small community-schools often help to mitigate the impact of poverty on student learning, yet we push for larger units in the name of efficiency.
We have now had state mandates to centralize transportation and special education. We moved to a census block grant in funding special education, largely out of a goal of cost containment. Educator health benefits are now bargained at a statewide level in the name of savings. We have induced, and in numerous cases forced, governance consolidation in the name of efficiency and transparency—questionable if either have been achieved. Now, with the passing of Act 127 to address longstanding inequities, the Legislature botched an attempt to redistribute resources that resulted in additional pressure on the education fund at a time other pressures have combined to create untenable tax increases.
Some small schools have closed in recent years. The Holland Elementary School, I attended as a child, was once the teaching principal at and my children attended closed while I was superintendent at NCSU. Others likely will in years to come. These difficult decisions should be made by the community, not by undue pressure from Montpelier or lured by false inducements. There are times that a community will close their school due to a convergence of limited educational opportunity and increased cost. School-communities should not be pushed into these situations by bad public policy. We must be leery of claims that substantial savings will result from school closure and consolidation—check the research. Small schools cannot be the target.
We must be careful to not fulfill a true tragedy of the commons where we compromise our public education system due to our inability to manage it effectively. Vermonters are rightfully unhappy with the projected jump in property taxes and our current approach is not sustainable. There is a need for correction, but a rushed response by the Legislature is not the answer. Whereas it is reasonable to consider new revenue for the education fund, it is perhaps more appropriate to revisit the burdens added to the education fund, such as universal meals and early college along with past reductions in general fund transfers. All schools will have to consider more ways to spend less money.
Vermonters hold a strong sense of identity and shared values, are truly interdependent, believe in reciprocity and remain incredibly resourceful—a strong sense of community. We must value our rural identify and ensure all school-communities are given an opportunity to succeed. We must continue to support our public schools as we consider how we can best use our shared resources. We are fortunate to live in the small state of Vermont—with all its limits and blessings.
John A. Castle
