By Jane Regan
I am a teacher at Harwood Union and am writing in response to a letter in the February 15 Valley Reporter from a "recently-retired middle-income Vermonter" and I wanted to briefly say why I – a 63-year-old teacher – am voting for the budget.
I appreciate that the rise in taxes is untenable for many. I, myself, draw on my savings every year so that I can actually be a teacher and still do things like ski and visit my family in Spain. (My salary before taxes is about $50,000.)
The letter-writer noted as a piece of evidence that the HUUSD serves fewer students than in the past. That is true. But they are the community's, the state's, the country's, and the planet's future and every single one of those young people has the potential to make the future a bit less dark than it currently portends to be.
The writer also noted the changes in funding systems due to Act 127 which assures students in less-privileged districts receive more funding, and districts like ours receive less. Again, true, but two things: 1) Isn't that the kind of state we want to live in? 2) Our representatives in Montpelier voted for that, so take up your grumbles with them.
The writer noted that HUUSD spends $25,053 per student (2121-22), but, a state report (accessible here -- https://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Legislative-Reports/GENERAL-366459-v2-2023_Report_on_Education_Financing.pdf) using 2020-2021 figures notes that Vermont was $23,299 and the Northeast was $21,535. Using a national figure as she did was comparing apples to oranges. Also, with 12% of our children living in poverty, our school system may be the only place they can access proper mental health interventions, food, and other necessities. (U.S. Census figures here -- https://data.census.gov/profile/Vermont?g=040XX00US50)
The writer also noted the rise in property values and how that will impact full-year residents. No doubt. But should Vermont's students pay the price? What about advancing bills at that state level that put more of the burden on second- and third- (yes, third -- I know a few) homeowners?
Finally, when looking at salaries and the projected rise each year, it is true that there is a slight wage hike each year in the previous contract. But the percentages were mostly less than inflation, and it should be noted that salaries in HUUSD are lower than in the neighboring Mount Abe district, for some unknown reason. Ideally, wages should keep up with inflation, at the very least.
Last, but not least, the industry we all love to hate: health insurance. Insurance rates are going up. We teachers and staff cannot control that.
Our buildings leak, flood, are too hot or too cold, and also have some outdated materials and furnishing, yet we administrators and staff and teachers turn out excellent young leaders who will help our community, state and country in the years to come.
Yes, I voted for the HUUSD budget, but that is only my first step.
Our education funding system is broken.
We all need to pressure our state and federal officials for better, equitable and more funding for our educational systems, not less – pre-K, elementary and secondary and college – and we need to be sure that it does not unfairly hurt any one sector of the population.
I also think the country and each of us need to rethink our priorities: as citizens of Vermont, the U.S. and the world.
In 2021, the U.S. budget stood at about $7 trillion.
- Only 6.2% went to education (in general, including universities, etc.) and over 10% to the military. (https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/spending/)
- And, more importantly, of the "discretionary spending" (what lawmakers argue over), almost half went to military expenditures. Only a bit for "education." (https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58269)
Why?
Regan teaches ninth-grade social studies (Global Studies) and tenth-grade U.S. history. She lives in Fayston.
