By Representative Candice White
In the time that has passed since the 2025 Vermont Legislature adjourned, I escaped to the ocean for a mini-vacation, continued tackling unanswered emails, and co-hosted with Representative Torre an end-of-session public meeting at the Big Picture.
Overall, it was a rewarding and energizing experience to serve in the 2025 legislative session. Through my committee assignment, I received a big, broad introduction to the many facets of Vermont transportation, including roads, rail, air, and bike paths. I forged relationships with legislators and government officials of all political persuasions. I crammed health care and education-reform meetings into my weekly schedule, as well as Democratic, Rural, and Women’s caucus meetings.
In May, I was even chosen to serve on the Committee of Conference for S.123 – the DMV Bill – one of two bills to come out of my committee. I learned a great deal, worked diligently to represent the interests of our community, and on the last day, voted in support of one of the most important bills of the session, H.454, the Education Transformation Bill.
EMAIL MESSAGES
Responding to the many email messages regarding my vote on H.454, and hearing comments from constituents who either work in education or whose children attend local schools, I experienced my first real misgivings about being a state representative:
“I don't think you get it at all and you certainly don't get the people you are supposed to represent. . . ”
“You need to know that if you vote YES on H.454, you will lose my support in our next election. . .”
“It is incredibly disappointing that you voted against public schools and your own community on Monday. In talking to you, it became apparent very quickly that you did not understand the nuances and implications of your vote. . .”
Messages like these are disheartening, and not particularly productive. I spent much of my time this session focused on education reform. Beginning in November, I joined a weekly working group led by the House Chairs of Education, and Ways & Means. Facing the realities of rising costs, decreasing enrollment, and declining student outcomes, these meetings were an opportunity to have open dialogue on the many facets of public education. When Governor Scott and Secretary Saunders put forth their proposal for Education Reform, this group focused on how we could work within this broad framework, and identified issues that would be difficult for our districts to support. We discussed the fears of class-size minimums and the potential for small schools to close; concerns that independent schools should be held to the same standards as public schools; questions on why we were funding independent schools in Massachusetts and England. We identified areas of potential cost savings, and changes that could improve the student experience. We discussed the basic principles of a quality education – excellent teachers, strong school leadership, a safe environment to learn. These meetings were inclusive of all party affiliations and were a productive way to communicate ideas and concerns to the leaders of the House Committees. Those leaders in turn took testimony from representatives of all areas of education – superintendents, teachers, business managers, students – as they worked to carefully craft H.454.
WIDE DISAGREEMENT
When H.454 moved to the Senate, there was wide disagreement among the members, and a possibility that the bill might fail. But the bill passed, and returned to the House, where a Committee of Conference began negotiating the final bill. The Conference Committee process felt flawed in that two of three Senate conferees had direct ties to independent schools – one a longtime board member of Burr & Burton Academy, the other a teacher employed by St. Johnsbury Academy. Watching the Conference Committee, and hearing some of the senators’ vehement lobbying for independent schools, was troubling. However, House conferees managed this process with skill and grace, making concessions where possible, and holding the line where necessary. There were misconceptions regarding the final Conference Committee bill – that independent schools would not be held to the same standards as public schools, that independent schools would be able to charge higher rates than public schools, and that this bill would gut rural communities by mandating massive school closures. These claims are largely unfounded.
H.454 mandates standard graduation requirements across publicly-funded schools that will benefit students; it mandates minimum class sizes that will benefit students and taxpayers; it significantly cuts public-school funding to independent schools, which benefits taxpayers; it implements a foundation formula where the state sets the amount it will pay per student; and it creates a study committee to review some of the highest costs in public education. Other components of the bill, such as the Redistricting Task Force, and the Commission on the Future of Public Education, were altered in ways I did not like. I would have preferred the Redistricting Task Force to have fewer legislators and more school professionals. I would have preferred the commission to have been more involved in the transformation process. But in negotiations, you don’t win every point. Overall, I believe this bill is a solid start to begin the transformation process to bring costs into line and to make essential improvements to public education. (Listen here to Vermont This Week’s excellent review of the bill.) I raised my two children here in The Valley where they attended public schools from preschool into high school. And yes, I would have supported this bill if they were still in the public school system.
SESSION REVIEW
Our June 24 meeting at the Big Picture quickly changed from a legislative session review to a discussion/condemnation of H.454. While some comments felt accusatory, others expressed productive concerns, ideas, and questions that I want to address below.
Other concerns were voiced regarding maximum high school size (1,000 students was suggested), maximum bus ride to/from school (one hour was suggested), and a real desire to take the time for public understanding and input on the transformation process. Representative Torre and I held regular public meetings throughout the session to invite public input and questions on all policy discussions. We held two meetings specific to H.454, one in March and another in May, in consort with other legislators and the administration. But, I agree that the final legislation did not allow for enough time for public discussion between final draft and voting, and I will advocate for a better process going forward.
In conclusion, it has been an honor to represent my community in the State House this past session. Please remember that my job is to represent all facets of our community – those who can’t afford the upward spiraling of property taxes, as well as those who don’t want to change our public schools. This requires working to understand the intricacies of proposed legislation, listening to the often conflicting viewpoints of my constituents, and arriving at a decision that I believe is best for our community and for our state as a whole.
I will be switching to other work during the off-season, but will make a point to get to important community meetings, and to continue conversations on pressing topics such as education reform, health care, and climate resiliency.
I welcome constructive ideas, concerns, and questions, and wish everyone a beautiful Vermont summer.
Education Transformation Bill (H.454) Specifics
Who will make up the School District Redistricting Task Force?
The Task Force will be 11 members – five non-legislative and six legislative – with extensive experience working within the Vermont public education system, each representing a different geographic region of the state.
Five non-legislative members:
Two members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House – one a retired/former Vermont superintendent of a supervisory union with multiple member school districts; the other, a retired or former Vermont school business manager or a retired or former school board member.
Two members shall be appointed by the Committee on Committees – one a retired or former Vermont superintendent, the other a retired or former Vermont school business manager.
One member shall be appointed by the Governor, who shall be a retired or former Vermont superintendent.
Six legislative members:
Three members shall be current members of the House of Representatives, not all from the same political party nor from the same school district, appointed by the Speaker of the House.
Three members shall be current members of the Senate, not all from the same political party nor from the same school district.
What criteria will be considered in the proposed new school districts?
-an average daily membership of not fewer than approximately 4,000 and not more than 8,000 prekindergarten through grade 12 students.
- Grand List and pupil-count balanced, demographically equitable, logistically feasible, and create the least amount of disruption to students as possible.
-current school district and town boundaries and other historic and current community connections, including access to regional services for students, such as designated agencies;
- geographic barriers, including mountains and rivers;
- population distribution;
- location, capacity, and the facility condition index score of current school buildings;
- transportation and employment patterns and practices:
- grand list values accounting for the homestead exemption and current education spending;
-student demographics;
-the debt, liabilities, and assets of current school districts;
-staffing levels and salary scales;
- opportunities to support local elementary schools, central middle schools, and regional high schools, with the least disruption to students;
- access to career and technical education (CTE) for all eligible students;
- the maximization of cost efficiencies;
- the location of schools and CTE centers
What is the timeline for education transformation?
See the link here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NgVjNOjNaB-vqY5fOnwqk4j0YdXysaZ-/view
