Education reform effort hits home stretch in Legislature

Lawmakers are heading into the stretch run of the 2026 legislative session with a to-do list that includes major reform of the state’s education system.

The Cornwall representative, chair of the House Education Committee, proposes a school consolidation map that would combine 119 districts into 27.

Join State Rep. Peter Conlon (Addison-2) and Wendy Baker, Addison Central School District superintendent, to discuss Act 73 school redistricting on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

The passage of the education bill, H. 454, in the General Assembly, and presumably gaining the governor’s signature into law, marks the start of efforts to transform Vermont’s education system into one that recognizes the incredible demographic changes ov … (read more)

When it comes to two of the biggest issues facing Vermonters, Gov. Phil Scott has gone silent. I am sure he is out there, checking his enormous political capital, then deciding not to spend a penny of it leveling with Vermonters that making the changes ou … (read more)

Many people have questions about how the proposed changes to Vermont’s K-12 school system being debated by the Legislature might impact their kids, school, community, or property taxes. To learn more, join Senator Ruth Hardy for a K-12 Education Community … (read more)

On Friday, Vermont’s House Committee on Education voted out its much anticipated “Education Transformation” bill, echoing but not copying many of the shared goals with Gov. Scott. The proposals contained in the bill are potentially sweeping changes to our … (read more)

When it comes to the Town Meeting Day elections for the Addison Central School District board, experience counts. That is why I will cast one of my votes for Steve Orzech of Middlebury.

Is this the year Vermont finally scraps its complex education funding system and creates a model that doesn’t result in double-digit property tax increases? Will the Legislature create more pressure to close rural schools? What does the future hold for th … (read more)

Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall — the current chair of the House Education Committee — won a fifth consecutive term representing the Addison-2 House district on Tuesday, warding off a spirited challenge from Leicester Republican Christine Stone.

When the tax bills for Leicester and Middlebury went out this fall, they included a letter encouraging those with questions about the education property tax rates to contact Addison County State Sens. Chris Bray and Ruth Hardy, and me.

In times like these, when everyone is feeling pressure and stress, it is especially important that we all come together to solve problems and support one another across the state.

Three school districts serving students from Addison County will soon revote budgets. Mount Abe, Slate Valley and Otter Valley budgets deserve to pass.

Not many towns or cities in the United States get the benefit of 30 years from a police chief, and especially one who so embodies the “protect and serve” philosophy, with a heavy emphasis on the “serve” part.

The recent news that Vermont’s Attorney General has filed suit against Monsanto for its sale of PCB-containing materials is an important step to hopefully recoup what is on track to be tens of millions of dollars — perhaps hundreds of millions — to fund t … (read more)