Governor-Elect Peter Shumlin Right to Defer to Local Schools
Montpelier listened to you, your school boards, parents and taxpayers. Governor-elect Shumlin on Dec. 22 announced that he will not seek to enforce the $23.2 million worth of cuts on individual schools, and will also recommend that the $19 million of federal education stimulus money be spent where it's supposed to be spent: local school districts.
Below is a copy of a press release announcing your union's support of this decision, and also President Martha Allen's remarks praising it.
Not Enforcing ‘Challenges’ Targets Right Decision
Shumlin’s move to allocate $19 million to state’s schools shows strong support of local budget-making
MONTPELIER – Governor-elect Peter Shumlin’s decision to not enforce the $23.2 million worth of Challenges for Change cuts shows his support of locally crafted school budgets, Vermont-NEA President Martha Allen said today.
“We appreciate Governor-elect Shumlin’s decision today because it is the right thing to do,” said Allen, who represents the nearly 12,000 men and women who teach Vermont’s children. “For years, our local school boards have done their best to listen to their communities, and, together with them, have made the hard decisions about how best to continue their investment in local schools.”
By telling the Legislature that he will not enforce the voluntary targets imposed on school boards earlier this year, the governor-elect nonetheless said that state support toward school boards will remain $23.2 million less for the next budget year.
However, in another move hailed by Allen, Shumlin said he wants the $19 million in federal education surplus money already received by the state to be distributed to schools as soon as possible.
“We are pleased that the federal education stimulus money will be used as Congress and the President intended: to keep teachers and support professionals in the classroom,” she said.
Over the last few weeks, schools struggled under the pressures of Challenges for Change. Parents, locally elected school board members and residents made it clear they didn’t want state-mandated cuts in their school budgets.
“We are glad that Montpelier – especially the governor-elect – listened to them,” Allen said. “We are most grateful that he shares our belief that our public schools are our most important resource – for our future, for our economic development, for our children.”
STATEMENT OF MARTHA ALLEN ABOUT THE DECISION
Thank you, Governor-Elect Shumlin. As the president of Vermont-NEA, I represent nearly 12,000 fellow educators, and, on behalf of them, I want to thank you for recognizing the importance of investing in our local public schools.
As the state’s most important resource, our local public schools have been a part of the fabric of Vermont for more than two centuries. We have much to be proud of in our schools, institutions that have earned the support of their local communities – and have lived up to their end of the bargain by becoming some of the best schools in the nation.
We appreciate Governor-elect Shumlin’s decision today because it is the right thing to do. For years, our local school boards have done their best to listen to their communities, and, together with them, have made hard decisions about how best to continue their investment in local schools.
We are pleased that the governor elect and Commissioner Vilaseca continue to stress the importance of local decision-making – of letting local voters, residents and elected school boards decide what is best for them and their students.
We are pleased that the federal education stimulus money will be used as Congress and the President intended: to keep teachers and support professionals in the classroom, working with our students and helping to shape Vermont’s future.
We believe, as the governor-elect has said, that economic development depends, in large part, on the health of our public education system. In Vermont, we are blessed with one of the best public school systems in the country, and we applaud the governor-elect, the commissioner and Speaker Shap Smith for doing their part in supporting local public schools.
We know that public education is a significant investment. But we also know that, year after year, local voters make local decisions, and know that their decisions sometimes come with higher taxes. It is they, not Montpelier, who are best left to make those decisions.
Over the last few weeks, as schools struggled under the pressures of Challenges for Change, parents, locally elected school board members and residents made it clear they didn’t want Montpelier calling the tune for their local schools.
We are glad that Montpelier – especially the governor-elect – listened to them. We are most grateful that he shares our belief that our public schools are our most important resource – for our future, for our economic development, for our children.
Thank you.