This commentary is by Cheryl Charles. She is in her 10th year as a Vermont school board member, currently serving as chair of the Westminster Town School District board and chair of the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union Board. She is chair of the steering committee for the newly-formed Vermont Rur al School Community Alliance.Vermonters spoke loud and clear this Town Meeting Day: they support their public schools. With over 90% of school budget proposals winning voter approval and budgets passing in at least 101 districts, the message is undeniable — Vermont communities value their schools and want to see them strengthened, not dismantled.While there is broad recognition that education finance reform is needed, Vermonters are not interested in a rushed, one-size-fits-all political fix. Instead, they seek thoughtful, well-planned reforms that prioritize the best interests of children, taxpayers and the future of Vermont’s communities.That is why the Vermont Rural School Community Alliance has come together — to advocate for reform that considers the unique needs of rural schools while ensuring financial sustainability. The RSCA represents Vermonters from all walks of life — educators, parents, school board members and community leaders who understand that Vermont’s public schools are the backbone of its rural communities.The Alliance acknowledges the financial challenges facing Vermont’s education system; however, we are deeply concerned about many elements of Gov. Phil Scott’s education transformation proposal. The plan, as currently outlined, lacks necessary consideration for the potential adverse impacts on students, elementary schools and local communities. The plan ignores Vermont’s history, school culture and geographic realities, providing an out-of-scale approach that fails to account for significant regional differences. Furthermore, the proposal relies on the expansion of school choice which could divert much-needed public funds to private institutions, increasing educational inequities rather than addressing them. And by relying on a hasty, top-down consolidation process, RSCA fears this proposal will lead to widespread, unnecessary and harmful school closures, negatively impacting students and communities alike.RSCA supports meaningful reform that strengthens, rather than dismantles, Vermont’s public education system. Instead of an overly broad, top-down approach, we urge policymakers to consider alternative solutions that respect Vermont’s unique educational landscape.RSCA is eager to work with legislators and communities to promote balanced, research-backed solutions that truly benefit Vermont students, families, taxpayers and communities. We propose:Supporting elementary schools as community hubs that enhance early learning and contribute to local economic development. Encouraging regional collaboration for secondary school education while maintaining flexibility for local needs. Evaluating laws passed over the last 15 years to highlight lessons learned. Retaining local voice and decision-making which adds value to our education system at little cost. Addressing critical issues such as skyrocketing health care costs, teacher shortages, school infrastructure needs and access to student mental health services without further destabilizing the education system.Vermonters have shown their commitment to public education. Now it is up to policymakers to listen and ensure that any proposed changes to the system reflect the values and needs of the people they serve. Education finance reform should be a collaborative process that strengthens Vermont’s schools, not an out-of-scale experiment that risks harming rural students and their communities.Read the story on VTDigger here: Cheryl Charles: Vermonters demand thoughtful education finance reform. ...read more read less