Following a year of school budget failures and double-digit property tax hikes, Gov. Phil Scott's administration is proposing a major change to how the state pays to educate children. The so-called foundation formula is a commonly used system that would give more power to the state — and less to local taxpayers — to determine how much money school districts receive. Some experts say the switch won't save money, but it could be a more equitable and straightforward way to pay for education. Education Secretary Zoie Saunders and consultants hired by her agency have already testified to lawmakers about the proposed funding mechanism. It's part of a larger plan to transform Vermont's education system that the governor hinted at during his inaugural address. That proposal is likely to recommend large-scale school district consolidation as a way to save money. "This session, we have the rare opportunity to not only make our system more affordable for taxpayers but to improve the quality of education for all kids — no matter their challenges or where they live," Scott said during his January 9 speech. "And we owe it to everyone to seize the moment and be brave, together." Scott is expected to describe the transition in more detail during his budget address on Tuesday, January 28, and lawmakers will be briefed on the plan this week. Democratic leaders, chastened by the loss of their supermajority in the Statehouse and without a proposal of their own, seem content with playing a supporting role — for now, anyway. At a press conference last week, Rep. Peter Conlon (D-Cornwall), chair of the House Education Committee, said his caucus was encouraged by the governor's "strong participation in this debate" and was ready to work on reforming the education system. "We welcome a detailed proposal from the administration, and I assume we're going to receive that," Conlon said. "We welcome the chance to really do this all together." It will ultimately be up to lawmakers to craft legislation to change the way money is allocated to schools. Under Vermont's current funding formula, taxpayers vote on their school district's proposed budget every year. Once a spending plan is approved, the state provides the money from its Education Fund, which is primarily filled by property tax revenue. A foundation formula, meanwhile, would allow the state to determine how much it costs to educate each student and…