Members of school boards in The Valley are hosting an education funding forum at the Big Picture in Waitsfield on Thursday, February 13, at 6:30 p.m.
"Given all the coalescing forces that are driving up spending and taxes, we felt it was important to engage early and more broadly, not just for the schools but for the taxpayers," said Fayston School Board chair Heidi Spear, explaining the need for the forum.
The objective of the forum is to give community members a chance to learn more about the school funding system, local and statewide spending and the anticipated impact on local taxes prior to Town Meeting Day.
"The complexity of these issues and its impact on our cost of living deserves more time and requires greater understanding. The forum will provide an opportunity for Q&A about our cost drivers and local cost containment efforts and include a discussion about our best options for containing spending and tax hikes going forward," Spear explained.
Panel members include a variety of stakeholders and perspectives: board members from every school board across the supervisory union, administration, the executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association, state Representative Adam Greshin and community leaders, who are concerned and engaged in these issues. The event will be moderated by Howard Wynne of Fayston.
"We are committed to better informing the public and engaging them to work toward real solutions to the challenges we face," Spear added.
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