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The Burlington Free Press ran this May 30th.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress…

Governor, Why Sink Our Schools?

Governor Douglas,

When your budget proposal was released, there was a lot in it for Vermonters to shake their heads about.  While I find the cuts to our social programs devastating, there are people more qualified to talk on those issues.  But as a high school student, I think I have a thing or two to say about your proposal to thoroughly gut our state’s education system.

Governor, the budget you’ve offered is not only a direct affront to Vermont students, but it’s an insult to school board members and town meeting attendees all across Vermont.  It takes a remarkable lack of responsibility to level-fund all education spending and then shift a wealth of expenses into the Education Fund, all in the name of “fiscal responsibility”.

Level funding is a brash way of pushing school boards up against a rail, and forcing them to make cuts.  There are expenses that rise over time; everyone knows this.  And so by offering this proposal, you force towns to make painful cuts, on top of the ones they’ve already made.  Passionate, young educators with tremendous talent are forced out of our classrooms and into the ranks of the unemployed.  Essential arts programs wind up torn apart.  The result is simple: students lose.  I lose, Governor, and my classmates lose.  In a world of increased competition, you’d like the state to abandon its students, leaving us to fend for ourselves. Meanwhile, competing countries around the world are preparing their next generation for the global economy.  Unless a family is wealthy enough to send its children off to private school, it looks like we’re out of luck with you.

Unfortunately, my family doesn’t make the kind of money where that’s a viable option, Governor.  These are uncertain times for all of us.  And in these times, when so many Vermont families are struggling to get by, what have you chosen to do?  You’ve offered a proposal that will dramatically increase the property tax burden on Vermonters.  According to Appropriations Chairs Sen. Susan Bartlett and Rep. Martha Heath, “the actual impact on individual Vermont families could be as high as $8,000 dollars.”  Surely, Governor, you are not so out of touch as to believe that there are any middle-income families who could afford that incredible spike.

But this proposal does not just hit Vermonters in their wallets, it insults those who adhere to the simple principles of federalism, and believe that schools should be under local control.  You’ve tied the hands of school boards all across the state.  These are community members who have invested a great deal of time to put forth budgets that both satisfy the taxpayers and offer my classmates a strong education.  In some unfortunate cases, positions have to be cut.  But across the state, school boards have done what they believed to be best for their community.  Your proposal takes away local control and attempts to consolidate more power under your office.  Apparently, your administration does not believe Vermonters are responsible enough to make decisions for themselves.

Governor, if you knew what was really going on in schools, you’d know that they are not the bloated behemoths you’ve tastelessly attempted to paint them as.  You’d know they are full of hardworking Vermonters, young and old.  You’d know they should be a source of pride for this state, not an area to attack.  The Legislature has given us a reasonable budget; it is not perfect, but at least it is responsible.  I hope, for the sake of all students, that you think twice before shutting us out in the cold.