Education for the 2011-2012 school year will look different than education today as a result of the “Challenges for Change,” or Act 146, legislation recently passed.  This is a new law mandating decreases in school spending statewide to make up $23 million of the state’s $120 million deficit for school spending, effective next school year.

Recently, the Vermont Department of Education (DOE) released their budget-cutting recommendations, or “targets,” to each school district in Vermont.  Chittenden Central Supervisory Union (CCSU) received a voluntary target of $727,931, which was calculated at the school district level as follows: Essex Junction School District – $240,439; Union #46 School District – $365,729; Westford School District – $59,591; and Central Office – $62,172.  Essentially, these targets represent the amount that should be cut throughout the supervisory union and its member school districts for the 2011-2012 school year.

“We believe we have a responsibility to honor the target.  None of the cuts are easy or desirable,” CCSU Superintendent Michael Deweese said.  “We understand there is a constituency for every single dollar now found within the existing budgets.  The school districts also have certain obligations, bills, and contracts that are binding for FY’12.  We will review a list of tentative education budget cuts that would satisfy the target, and invite your engagement to inform the board on whether or not these are the most appropriate areas to satisfy our obligation.”

School Boards will be seeking public input throughout this fall to help determine where these cuts should be made.  By December 15, each school board must notify the DOE of their preparedness to address their targets, and by January 15, the Commissioner of Education will notify the General Assembly of the response from school boards.

“We take our responsibility very seriously regarding how to provide learners with what they truly need to be prepared for what their futures hold,” CCSU Associate Superintendent Judith DeNova said.  “As we strive to realize these targets, we must continue to prepare students for a world that requires technologically literate people with well-developed critical- thinking and problem-solving skills.”

Learn more about how to be involved in these “Challenges for Change” decisions that will impact schools and communities statewide by visiting www.ccsuvt.org.  Information will be posted as it becomes available, so be sure to check the web-site often.