The Grand Isle County Supervisory Union is not an anomaly. We mirror what is happening with Vermont’s overall education challenges; a decrease in the number of students, a decrease in teacher/student ratio, an increase in property taxes, and an increase in students’ social issues (distance/isolation), all while trying to offer quality choices without increasing costs. The goal of Act 46 is to provide fiscally sustainable and equitable educational offerings. This is the goal the Grand Isle County Act 46 Committee is striving for, since monthly meetings began in August.
To achieve this goal the participating towns must agree on: the kind of district – grade structure - Pre-K – 6, tuitioning all 7 – 12 graders to a school of their choice, or a Pre-K – 8, tuitioning all 9 – 12 graders to a school of their choice, or a combination of these two options; governance; transportation, and board representation, to name a few of the many challenges ahead. After a plan is formulated that meets the state’s increasing education quality standards, it must then be submitted to the State Board of Education for approval. Only then can a vote by the Grand Isle participating towns occur. All towns named necessary to a merger must vote in favor for a proposal to pass to qualify for taxpayer incentives and protect valuable financial supports now supplied to GISU towns. The deadline for a successful vote is June 30, 2017 with the new district operational by 7/1/18.
The ACT 46 Committee meeting on February 16th will be a working session from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Time will be allowed at the beginning of the meeting, before the work session, for questions from the public. After the working session ends the public may ask questions regarding the topics covered during the session or any questions not answered during this working session.
A second meeting of the ACT 46 Committee will be held Tuesday, February 23, in the Alburgh School at 6 p.m. The ACT 46 Committee has been meeting monthly since August of 2015. The public is invited to all meetings and participation is encouraged.
Information regarding Act 46 can be found at: www.vermontdepartmentofeducation ---click on Act 46: Unification; www.Islandschools.org --click on Act 46 or documents, and www.education.vermont.gov.
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