Senate Committee on Education

 

AGENDA

 

Room 28 and Zoom

January 31, 2023 - February 3, 2023

Last Updated 2/7/2023 11:50 AM

 

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings are livestreamed at https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-education.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

9:30 AM                   Senate Floor

 

1:30 PM                   Committee Discussion on Career Technical Education

16 V.S.A. § 1541a

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

1:45 PM                   Access to Pre-K

Eastern Essex County

Sharon Ellingwood, NEK Choice School District

 

2:00 PM                   Association of Vermont Independent Colleges

Introductions and Updates

Susan Stitely, Strategic Advisor, Association of Vermont Independent Colleges

Mark Anarumo, President, Norwich University

Alejandro  Hernandez, President, Champlain College

 

3:05 PM                   S. 34 - An act relating to kindergarten enrollment age

Overview

Sen. Thomas Chittenden, Sponsor

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

3:00 PM                   Break

 

3:15 PM                   Proficiency Based Learning

When did it start and is it working?

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

3:35 PM                   Proficiency Based Learning

Mike McRaith, Assistant Executive Director, Vermont Principals Association

 

3:50 PM                   Universal School Meals

Maureen O'Neil, Food Service Director, Abbey Food Service Group (3:50 PM)

Cheryl Niedzwiecki, Teacher, Slate Valley Unified School District (4:05 PM)

Brooke Olson-Farrell, Superintendent, Slate Valley Unified School District (4:20 PM)

 

4:30 PM                   Adjourn

 

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

1:00 PM                   Senate  Floor

 

1:30 PM                   Setting a Minimum Salary for Teachers

Julia Richter, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

 

1:45 PM                   Setting a Minimum Salary for Teachers

Colin Robinson, Director, Government Relations, Vermont National Education Association

Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association

Jeff Francis, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association

 

2:45 PM                   Break

 

2:50 PM                   Universal School Meals Campaign

Jeff Francis, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association

Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association

Donald Tinney, President, Vermont National Education Association

 

3:00 PM                   How Are Teachers Educated?

Robert Schulze, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Special Education, Education Department Chair, Northern Vermont University

Ric Reardon, the Director of the Castleton Center for Schools, Castleton University

 

3:30 PM                   How Are Teachers Educated?

Katharine Shepard, Dean of the  College of Education and Social Services, University of Vermont

Dr. Kimberly Vannest, Chair, Department of Education

 

4:00 PM                   Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

Teach in Vermont Campaign

Marilyn Cargill, Vice President, Financial Aid Services, Marketing and Research, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

 

4:20 PM                   Adjourn

 

Thursday, February 2, 2023

1:00 PM                   Senate  Floor

 

1:30 PM                   Education Finance

Summer study on income tax versus property tax to fund education

Julia Richter, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Abby Shepard, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

2:10 PM                   School Safety

Side-By-Side: Current Statute versus Governor's Proposal

Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

 

2:20 PM                   Break

 

2:30 PM                   Early Childhood Education

What does it look like in Vermont?

Aly Richards, Chief Executive Officer, Let's Grow Kids

Sarah Kenney, Deputy Director, Let's Grow Kids

 

3:15 PM                   State Board of Education

Resources

Jennifer Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education

 

3:35 PM                   Break

 

3:45 PM                   Pensions 101

Where do we stand?

Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association

 

4:05 PM                   Mental Health in Schools

Donald Tinney, President, Vermont National Education Association

Alexina Federhen, Miss Vermont 2022; Community Member, Bennington, Vermont

 

4:30 PM                   Adjourn

 

Friday, February 3, 2023

11:30 PM                   Senate  Floor

 

1:00 PM                   School Safety

Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association

Donald Tinney, President, Vermont National Education Association

 

1:30 PM                   Vermont Independent Schools Association

Introductions, Updates, and Priorities

Drew Gradinger, President, Vermont Independent Schools Association

CJ Spirito, Head of School, Rock Point School

 

2:00 PM                   Break

 

2:10 PM                   FY23 BAA Testimony

Agency of Education

Sean Cousino, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education

Brad James, Finance Manager, Agency of Education

Jill Briggs Campbell, COVID-19 Federal Emergency Funds Project Manager, Agency of Administration

 

3:10 PM                   Adjourn

 

ATTENTION WITNESSES

 

Please email handouts to the committee assistant at least 24 hours before your scheduled meeting time. With few exceptions, any documents you send to a committee assistant are open to the public and may be posted to the committee’s web page.

 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact

 Hayden Ross at hross@leg.state.vt.us