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		LAWS & REGULATIONS: LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE: SEC. H.57: COMMITTEE ON THE FINANCING AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VERMONT EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE 21ST CENTURY (Updated 11/6/09)     OVERVIEW       The Committee on the Financing & Effectiveness of the Vermont Education System in the 21st Century required the Education Commissioner to convene a meeting by July 30, 2009, "to examine potential improvements to the structure and funding of the Vermont educational system in light of the state’s limited financial resources." View the complete text of Act 1 of Special Session 2009, an Act Making Appropriations for the Support of Government. Committee Members Meeting Schedule & Agendas (Updated 11/6/09) Resources     COMMITTEE MEMBERS       1.   Education Commissioner Armando Vilaseca, Committee Chair 2.   Janet Ancel, Vice Chair of House Ways and Means 3.   Susan Bartlett, Chair of Senate Appropriations 4.   Sen. Hartwell, Senate Finance 5.   Johannah Donovan, Chair of House Education 6.   Martha Heath, Chair of House Appropriations 7.   Robert Starr, Chair of Senate Education 8.   Carolyn Schwalbe, Governor-appointed constituent 9.   Moe Germain, Governor-appointed constituent 10.   Sen. MacDonald, Committee on Committees-appointed representative 11.   June Rosenberg, Committee on Committees-appointed constituent 12.   Bill Mathis, Committee on Committees-appointed constituent 13.   Rep. Hube, Speaker-appointed representative 14.   Jeff Francis, Speaker-appointed constituent 15.   Bob Rusten, Speaker-appointed constituent     MEETING SCHEDULE & AGENDAS (Updated 11/6/09)       Additional meeting dates and times will be added when provided.         August 10, 2009 1:30 P – 3:30 P Commissioner Vilaseca’s Office     September 1, 2009 9:30 A – 3:00 P Room 11, Statehouse     September 25, 2009 9:30 A – 3:00 P Room 10, Statehouse   Meeting Materials View the agenda and materials/links presented at the meeting: Agenda Bill Talbott: Teacher/Staff Full-Time Equivalency (FTE) and Salary Reports Brad James: Student/Teacher Ratios Donna Russo-Savage: Constitutions Guarantee of Equal Voting Strength     October 14, 2009 10:00 A – 4:00 P Room 11, Statehouse   Meeting Materials Agenda Meeting Minutes for October 14, 2009 David L. Silvernail: Overview of Maine's School District Reorganization Law David L. Silvernail: Overview of Maine's K-12 School Funding Formula & Special Education Funding Brad James: Removing the Small Schools Grants Data showing the effect removing the small schools grants would have on school districts receiving those grants. Data used is for FY2010.     November 5, 2009 9:30 A - 3:00 P Pavilion Building (4th Floor Conference Room) 109 State Street, Montpelier NOTE: ID is Required   Meeting Materials (Updated 11/6/09) Agenda Meeting Minutes for November 5, 2009(Updated 11/6/09) Thomas M. Salmon, State Auditor: Teachers Retirement Obligations and the Proposed Transfer to the Education Fund (Memo of May 21, 2009)(Added 11/6/09) Roots of Success: Effective Practices in Vermont Schools (Added 11/6/09)     December 14, 2009 (Final Meeting) (Updated 11/6/09) 9:30 A - 3:00 P Room 10, Statehouse RESOURCES       View resources related to the Committee's task. Additional materials may be added at a future date. Background Act 1 of Special Session 2009, an Act Making Appropriations for the Support of Government (PDF) Per Pupil Spending by Type Funding Vermont School Districts (April 2009) Master District List Snelling Center's Summary of Observations: School Governance 2007 Report on Act 82, Section 19: An Act Relating to Education Quality and Cost Control Appendix D: Educational Governance in the United States - A 2007 Report       From Committee Members: Commissioner Vilaseca shares Ideas to Improve Accountability for Education in Vermont from Wendy Wilton, Rutland City Teasurer Commissioner Vilaseca - Rutland City School District: Some Thoughts on Consolidation Incentives June Rosenberg: This communication has been received from John Fike, veteran chairperson of Windsor Central Supervisory Union, Reading Board of Education, and a Reading Lister June Rosenberg: This communication has been received from Tom Vickery, veteran Assessor and Lister for the towns of Duxbury, Stowe, and Waterbury Bill Mathis – The “Perfect” Education Finance System Susan Bartlett – The Perfect School System for 2010 and Beyond Bill Talbott – September 1 Meeting Handout on the Duties of the Electorate, School Boards, Supervisory Unions and the State Board of Education Carolyn Schwalbe E-mail of September 3, 2009 Suggested reference materials Brigham vs. State Opinion Act 60/68/130 Act 82 Commissioner Cate's White Paper Commissioner Cate's "Conversation Agenda" Includes organization charts and a concise description of the current governance structure Carolyn Schwalbe – Project STAR (Student Teacher Achievement Ratio) Study Opinions of the validity and usefulness of the study vary, but please note that "Small Class Size" is defined as 13-17 students, Regular as 22-26, and Regular with one teacher and an aide as 22-26 pupils. The project studied primary/elementary school students. There are many other links to this study: Class Size: Project Star (PDF) Science-Based Parenting: The Politics of Reduced Class Size Class Size: Counting Students Can Count (PDF) Evidence From Project STAR About Class Size and Student Achievement Commissioner Vilaseca – Birth Rate w/Projections June Rosenberg – NYT article: Bits - Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom       From Interested Parties: Dover School Board Letter to the Commissioner & the Committee (dated 9/21/09) Daniel French – Transforming Vermont's System of Public Education John Everitt - A Report of the Business-Education Alliance: Vision, Goals, and Governance in Vermont’s Public Education System (PDF) James and Margie Blansfield – Letter to the Committee Peter Fisher – Talking School Funding Frank Wingate: EFTF Cost Containment (Hugh Kemper) Vermont K12 Public Education Base Case for Resource Management and Cost Containment (Hugh Kemper)     FOR QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:       For comments, questions or additional information, contact Cindy Lee, Commissioner's Executive Assistant, at (802) 828-0770 or cindy.lee@state.vt.us.             Laws & Regulations PDF files require the use of Adobe Acrobat Reader. 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