The writer sent this letter to Rep. Peter Conlon and Sen. Ruth Hardy and copied the Independent.

I strongly believe that H.454 is being rushed through without enough scrutiny and support, either from the Legislature or from Vermonters.

I know there is political pressure to do something, but this seems very fraught. Even the chair of Senate Education seems very ambivalent about this bill.

The purported cost savings have not been demonstrated, especially if we have to build or renovate multiple buildings to meet the 450 student per school 6-12 requirement.

It seems that to meet the budgetary goals, there will have to be mass layoffs of staff and faculty which will harm our students.

Finally, this bill will negatively affect Addison County, which you both represent.  How can you sell this to our voters?

I’m asking you to slow this process down; do not send this bill out yet. It isn’t ready for prime time.

Fran Putnam

Weybridge