BRISTOL — Bristol’s Town Meeting Day ballot on March 4 will feature a three-person race for two seats representing the town on the Mount Abraham Unified School District Board.

Elizabeth Sayre, Meredith Rossignol and Chanin Hill are running for the two available three-year terms. Rossignol and Sayre currently serve on the panel.

The Independent reached out to the three candidates to hear more about their candidacy, experience and thoughts on key issues and changes to the state’s education funding system.

Their answers are printed below. Responses from Sayre were not available as the Independent went to press.

Please provide a brief bio.

Hill: Hi, my name is Chanin Hill and I am a lifetime resident of Addison County. I attended primary school at both Beeman Elementary and Bristol Elementary and graduated from MAUHS in 1988. My three children all attended Bristol Elementary and graduated from MAUHS and went on to college. I currently work on the family farm doing bookkeeping, payroll, grant administration, retirement account administration and many other duties. My public service currently includes being a member of the Bristol Planning Commission, our farm is a member of the Champlain Valleys Farmer Coalition and Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance (VDPA) of which I was recently elected to the be the Executive Director. Previously, our farm was a founding member of VDPA and I was a board member for many years.

Rossignol: I’m a lifelong Vermonter, deeply committed to safe, effective, and sustainable schools. With a master’s in special education and years of hands-on experience, I’ve seen our schools’ challenges up close. As a former teacher of students with emotional and behavioral disabilities, I understand what’s at stake.

This past year, as a school board trustee and chair of the Community Engagement Committee, I fought to keep teachers in classrooms and students safe while finding smart cost-saving solutions. If re-elected, I’ll keep pushing for practical, community-driven policies that strengthen our schools.

Why represent your town on the MAUSD board?

Rossignol: My daughter, Lily, is 2 years old, and like every child in our four towns, she deserves the best possible education. As a parent and member of this community, I am deeply invested in the future of our schools. Our current system is not sustainable. Despite Vermont spending the most per student on education, the quality of our education is mediocre. If we continue on this path, costs will keep rising, and the quality of education will decline.

I believe we can do better. I want to ensure that every child, including Lily, has access to a safe, effective, and sustainable education system.

Hill: My interest in becoming a member of our local school is because of my concern that my grandchildren who will be attending school in the district will get a quality education. I hope to support my schools and community by enhancing educational opportunities in programs and curricula that ensure all students are prepared for a future in both academic and career development.

How would you help MAUSD navigate education funding changes?

Hill: As Governor Scott has just introduced a new funding plan which I support, it’s too early to determine if it will come to fruition. I do know, and the voters have made it clear, that the current funding system is too costly and if elected I will work to be fiscally responsible.

Rossignol: My experience as an educator and team leader has given me the insight and skills to advocate effectively for our district. I am committed to ensuring that state-level changes benefit our schools, teachers, and students. I envision a future where every child has access to high-quality education, our teachers are fully supported, and our schools are thriving hubs of learning and growth without taxing our communities to their breaking points.

How should Vermont fund its schools?

Rossignol: Sustainably. We need to prioritize funding programs that truly benefit our children and cut unnecessary costs. We all agree that education in Vermont is too expensive. It’s time to take a hard look at where our tax dollars are going and eliminate expenses that don’t directly contribute to student success. By doing so, we can ensure that every dollar spent is making a meaningful impact on our children’s education and future.

Hill: Our resources are limited and need to be managed efficiently and effectively to directly benefit students and enhance the quality of education.

Are there other issues or concerns the school board should address in your term?

Rossignol: School safety is an urgent priority. With so many changes happening in education at the local, state, and federal levels, we must act now to ensure our schools are safe havens for our children. Recent survey data reveals that a significant number of our students don’t feel safe at school, and this is unacceptable to me as a parent, educator, and community member.

Note: Hill did not provide an answer to this question.