See the calendar below for upcoming CP Smith PTO events as well as some school events. Note that this calendar is managed by the PTO and not the school administration; click here for the Burlington School District calendar. More information about upcoming CP Smith PTO Events can be found here.
Big Changes Ahead for Vermont Schools - Parents, Your Voice is Needed!
Research and Data Compiled by Flynn Elementary PTO Parents:
Big education changes are moving fast in Vermont, and they’ll reshape how our schools are funded and governed for decades. Public officials have shared that they’re receiving very little feedback from the community on these important issues. The next week is a critical window - please take action this week (3 min) and plan to attend the public hearing on 10/28 if you’re able!
Under Act 73, the state plans to consolidate Vermont’s 100+ school districts into as few as 6–10 districts and eliminate local votes on school budgets. That means local voters would no longer decide their school budgets, and decisions about district boundaries and funding levels would instead be made by the state.
Here’s the kicker: there has been no financial or educational modeling to show whether these changes will save money or improve outcomes for students. The state has said modeling will happen after new districts are drawn—putting the cart before the horse and risking major unintended consequences.
Meanwhile, the data we do have tell a different story. Here are the headlines below, with deeper dives available through Public Schools VT and Public Access Institute.
Education spending is not “out of control.” After adjusting for inflation, education spending has stayed flat for nearly two decades, growing at the same rate as the rest of the state budget.
Cost increases are driven by factors outside districts’ control: inflation, health insurance, student mental health needs, and the expiration of federal COVID relief funds.
Past consolidations (like Act 46) did not save money or improve outcomes, and often hurt communities.
Our current funding system (Act 127, passed in 2022) already prioritizes equity. Its student-based funding model directs more resources to districts serving students who need them most - those from low-income families, multilingual learners, and small rural schools - so that every Vermont child has access to comparable opportunities, regardless of zip code. We just started to feel Act 127’s corrective effects this past budget cycle, and Act 73 would dismantle that progress.
And under our current hybrid tax system, low- and middle-income Vermonters pay a larger share of their income in school taxes than the wealthiest households, because higher-income residents can opt to pay based on property value instead of income. Act 73’s shift toward property-based taxation would make that inequity worse.
We can address real problems, like unfair tax structures and the need to thoughtfully reimagine how districts work statewide, by centering data, equity, students, and community voice.
Here’s how to act (takes 3 minutes):
Complete the statewide survey: Commission on the Future of Public Education Survey
*Emphasize that you would like to see the process stopped until modeling and community impact data are available, community voice has been centered in decision making, and Act 127’s equity goals are protected and upheld.
2. Email public comment to the Task Force: ADM.Redistricting@vermont.gov.
*Here is a sample message, if helpful.
3. Attend the final public hearing:
Winooski High School – Tues, Oct 28, 6–8 PM
Join via Microsoft Teams (Meeting ID 232 302 482 854 2 | Passcode rf2gs3PG)
4. Spread the Word: Post on Front Porch Forum, social media, and/or share this email with 3 members of your community and encourage them to act!
Let’s slow down, demand real data before decisions, and keep Vermont’s schools centered on students, equity, and community voice. Reach out to cpsmithpto@gmail.com with questions and reflections - and thank you for being an important member of this community!