Rural school alliance urges shared‑services (BOCES) model and warns that forced mergers would harm communities

Cheryl Charles, chair of the Rural School Community Alliance, and coalition witnesses told the task force their group now represents more than 100 towns and argues any transformation should protect local voice and avoid forced mergers. "We advocate for the importance of rural community public schools and for a democratic and decision making, that affects them," Charles said.

Speakers described shared-service approaches already operating in Vermont and urged expanding them rather than imposing large consolidated districts. They cited the Southeast Vermont collaborative (a BOCES-style shared-services model) as an example of immediate cost savings: the coalition said it is already seeing reductions in personnel costs and more efficient access to specialized services such as special education.

Dr. Ginny Albert (RSEA) presented cost charts comparing supervisory-union spending to merged-district rates and said, under one model, the state would have seen projected savings of roughly $112 million if spending matched supervisory-union rates rather than merged-district rates. Testimony stressed that local communities want staged, supported change and that state incentives (grants, school-construction funding, shared HR/payroll services) should accompany any push for consolidation.

Witnesses warned about closures and local consequences if decisions about closing schools are removed from community control: they described long bus rides and the economic and demographic effects of losing a local school. The alliance urged the task force to favor cooperative service areas, sustained technical assistance, and targeted incentives that help communities merge or collaborate voluntarily while safeguarding local representation on school boards.

The coalition asked the task force to prioritize short-term actions to hold down spending growth and to expand shared services so communities can pursue efficiencies without losing democratic control over local schools.