In the run-up to today’s third vote on a FY2025 budget for the Harwood Unified Union School District, it has been painful to observe and read some much conflation, misinformation, and lack of understanding about the process on social media and Front Porch Forum.
And as much as social media page managers and those with the correct information try to correct posts in real time, there’s no really good way to counter such a barrage.
Recent posts on Front Porch Forum have mistakenly suggested that in addition to a school budget, that we’re facing a $90 million bond this fall. We aren’t. The school board wisely took that off the table early this year after a full round of community meetings in each district town. They did so precisely because of this year’s school budgeting problems which the Legislature did very, very little to ameliorate.
The bond is off the table.
Another post suggested that the education tax increases would be exacerbated by a proposed wastewater system currently being pursued by the town of Waitsfield. A $15 million bond vote for that system takes place June 11. If successful it allows the town to pursue $13 million in state and federal grants and a $2 million long-term low-interest loan. Only users of the system will be repaying that loan. That project will not see construction until 2026.
Waitsfield voters who are not users of the system won’t pay for it.
And finally, painfully, recent posts have conflated and confused a student exchange trip between Harwood students and counterparts in India with Vermont’s horrific education funding system, suggesting student trips were part of the budget. They are not. Students and their families pay for those and U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has also obtained grants for Harwood and other Vermont schools.
The HUUSD FY2025 budget does not include funds for student travel.
And FYI, students on that trip to India studied the impact of climate change on the Himalayan Mountains and with their counterparts created a documentary film that premieres tonight at the Big Picture in Waitsfield from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with discussion following the film.
Clearly, our education funding is horrifically complicated AND clearly mis- and dis-information doesn’t foster better understanding or clearer, more honest dialogue.
