Children are our future and the quality of schools reflect the vitality of our communities. I live in a small town, with a small and successful school and have served on the school board for over a decade.
I have been working hard to bring accountability for the 1.6 billion dollars Vermonters spend annually on educating Vermont students. Our businesses, second homeowners and resident make a 10 million dollars investment in the state education fund annually. It’s fair to say we are keenly interested in the educational opportunities being purchased for students around the state, and what types of outcomes those investments are yielding. Data on what each school is buying seems like it should be a no brainer since almost every town’s businesses and second homeowners as well as many residents are investing in all of our Vermont students.
Here are some articles and reports about my efforts and testimony I have given in support of collecting data, small schools and being accountable to taxpayers:
2020
Laura Sibilia: Student weighting correction is just, not complicated
Officials call for ‘pupil weighting’ reform
High-need districts lobby lawmakers for education funding changes
2018
Laura Sibilia: Finding a compromise on education funding
End-of-session showdown looming over ed spending plan – WCAX.com
Lawmakers say staff-to-student ratio fines are ‘a horrible idea’
2017
Laura Sibilia: Rethinking Vermont’s education funding – VTDigger
Lawmakers threaten to sue education agency secretary
A triumph in education fairness | Times Argus
Stamford Group Asks for Time to Research Joint-Clarksburg School District
Whitingham sues over education property taxes
2015
Small and Rural Schools Caucus forms in the House
2014
Cap resolution rejected Education freeze could hurt small schools
1.17.2014 – Campaign Finance, Education, and the Budget …
Senate Committee on Education Agenda Jan 22, 2014
Vermont State News – Consolidation bill would eliminate …
2013
House Committee on Ways and Means Agenda February 7th, 2013
Senate Committee on Education Agenda May 9, 2013
Dover board approves funding for education lobbyist …
2012
Dover and Wilmington release education study – VTDigger
Deerfield Valley News – Study says change needed
VPR: Dover, Wilmington Release Report On School Funding
Student Mobility and Opportunity to Learn – University of Vermont…
2012 legislative update from KSE
Deerfield Valley News – Ed fund lobbying paying off
Dover, Wilmington get update on lobbying for education …
2010
School board protests closed meetings – WCAX.COM Local …
Education Challenges Design Team meetings now open to the public
Deerfield Valley News – Consolidation plans pack Statehouse
2008
Vermont State Representative Laura Sibilia 