House Committee on Education (Room M103)

The House Committee on Education considers matters relating to education, libraries, literary and scientific subjects, and other similar policies.

Print

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Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

House Floor

Election of Speaker of the House
Election of House Clerk

12:20 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

House Floor

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Thursday, January 9, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

House Floor

10:00 AM

Joint Assembly

Receive report of Canvassing Committee

10:45 AM

Lunch

2:00 PM

Joint Assembly

Governor's Inaugural Address

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Friday, January 10, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

House Floor

10:30 AM

Education Governance in Vermont

Presentation and committee discussion

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

11:35 AM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Agency of Education Listen and Learn Tour

Joint hearing with Senate Education Committee. This meeting will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed via the House Education YouTube channel. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  

2:30 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

House Floor and Caucuses

Followed by Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for Members

12:00 PM

Caucuses

1:05 PM

State Profile Report

• Anne Bordonaro, Federal Education and Support Division Director, Agency of Education
  
• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Amanda Brown, President, APA Consulting
  
• Andrew Prowten, Assistant Director, Educator Quality Division, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Justin Silverstein, Co-CEO, APA Consulting
  
• Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
  

2:40 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont

Joint hearing with House Ways and Means Committee. This meeting will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed via the House Education YouTube channel.

• Meagan Roy, Chair, Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont
  

10:50 AM

Committee Discussion

Election of Committee Clerk

11:00 AM

Education Funding

Committee will watch recording of House Ways and Means testimony from 2025-01-10 at 1:00 PM. This meeting will not be recorded.

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

Education Funding

Joint hearing with Senate Education and Senate Finance. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Craig Bolio, Commissioner, Department of Taxes
  
• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
  

3:00 PM

House Floor

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Adjourn

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Thursday, January 16, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

State Aid For School Construction Working Group

Presentation and discussion

• Rep. Erin Brady, Co-Chair, State Aid For School Construction Working Group
  
• Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Rep. Chris Taylor, Member, State Aid For School Construction Working Group
  

10:05 AM

Legislative Priorities

Vermont Superintendents' Association and Vermont School Boards Association introductions and legislative priorities

• Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  
• Flor Diaz-Smith, President, Vermont School Boards Association
  
• Amy Minor, President, Vermont Superintendents Association
  
• Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  

10:45 AM

Legislative Priorities

Vermont Principles' Association and Vermont-National Education Association introductions and legislative priorities

• Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
  
• Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
  
• Colin Robinson, Political Director, Vermont National Education Association
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

Foundation Formula

Joint hearing with House Ways and Means, Senate Education and Senate Finance. Hearing will be hosted in room 267 in the Pavilion and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Craig Bolio, Commissioner, Department of Taxes
  
• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Amanda Brown, President, APA Consulting
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Justin Silverstein, Co-CEO, APA Consulting
  

3:00 PM

House Floor

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Friday, January 17, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

House Floor

10:30 AM

Overview of Recent Legislation

Presentation and committee discussion

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

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Education Governance in Vermont

Joint hearing with Senate Education. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
  

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Adjourn

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Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

House Floor

Followed by small group DEI training for the Members

12:00 PM

Lunch & Caucuses

1:00 PM

Cradle to Career

Joint hearing with Senate Education and House Commerce and Economic Development. Hearing will be hosted in room 270 in the Pavilion and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Ruth Durkee, State Director of Career Technical Education, Agency of Education
  
• Johannes Haensch, Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Manager, Agency of Education
  
• Janet McLaughlin, Deputy Commissioner, Child Development Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Ryan Parkman, Personalized Learning Team Program Manager, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  

3:15 PM

Security Training

This meeting will not be recorded

• Agatha Kessler, Sergeant at Arms, Vermont General Assembly
  
• John Poleway, Chief of Capitol Police, Capitol Police Department
  

4:25 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Adult Diploma Program

Program updates and BAA request

• Michelle Faust, Executive Director, Northeast Kingdom Learning Services
  
• Brian Kravitz, Development and Outreach Director, Central Vermont Adult Education
  

9:30 AM

PCB Testing Program

Testimony from Vermont Superintendents

• Elaine Collins, Superintendent, North Country Supervisory Union
  
• Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  
• Caty Sutton, Interim Superintendent, Hartford School District
  

10:30 AM

Carson v. Makin Decision

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

11:20 AM

State Board of Education

Testimony on the role of the State Board of Education, Education Quality Standards and FY25 BAA request.

• Jennifer Deck Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
  
• Tammy Kolbe, Vice Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
  

12:15 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Budget Adjustment Act

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Sean Cousino, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education
  

1:45 PM

Budget Adjustment Act

• Keely Agan, Early Childhood Nutrition Manger, Hunger Free Vermont
  

2:00 PM

Education Quality Standards

Joint hearing with the Senate Education. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Andrew Jones, Assistant Superintendent, Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District
  
• Mike McRaith, Associate Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
  

3:00 PM

House Floor

3:45 PM

All Member Legislative Briefing

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Thursday, January 23, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Education Fund Outlook

Joint hearing with House Ways and Means. Hearing will be livestreamed on House Ways and Means YouTube channel.

• Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  
• Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  

9:30 AM

Task Force on Collaboration to Benefit all Students

Testimony from Vermont School Boards Association Task Force

• Flor Diaz-Smith, President, Vermont School Boards Association
  
• Clare Wool, Chair, Task Force on Collaboration to Benefit All Students, Chair, Burlington School District
  

10:15 AM

Break

10:30 AM

Committee Meeting and Discussion

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

11:00 AM

PCB Testing Program

Updates and current state

• Matt Chapman, Director of Waste Management & Prevention Division, Department of Environmental Conservation
  
• Patricia Coppolino, Senior Environmental Program Manager, Department of Environmental Conservation, Agency of Natural Resources
  

11:30 AM

Lunch

1:30 PM

Teacher Workforce

Joint hearing with Senate Education. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• John Castle, Executive Director, Vermont Rural Education Collaborative
  
• Scott Giles, President, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
  
• Andrew Prowten, Assistant Director, Educator Quality Division, Agency of Education
  
• Colin Robinson, Political Director, Vermont National Education Association
  

2:40 PM

Break

3:00 PM

House Floor

Followed by Ethics, Rules, and Decorum training for the Members

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Friday, January 24, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

House Floor

11:00 AM

Legislative Priorities

Joint hearing with House Ways and Means on the Agency of Education policy priorities and considerations. Hearing will be hosted in room 270 of the Pavilion and livestreamed on the House Ways and Means YouTube channel.

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Brigham Decision

Joint hearing with Senate Education. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on the Senate Ed YouTube channel.

• Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:00 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

House Floor

After Floor

Lunch and Caucuses

1:00 PM

Governor's 2025 Budget Address

Joint assembly to receive budget address

2:30 PM

Drawing School District Borders

Legal analysis. Joint hearing with Senate Education. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on House Education YouTube channel.

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

3:30 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:10 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Introduction and walk-through

• Rep. Angela Arsenault, Sponsor, Chittenden-2
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:00 AM

Committee Discussion

Discussion of upcoming themes and priorities

10:30 AM

Special Education

• Alyssa Barnes, Director of Student Services, Lamoille South Supervisory Union
  
• Mary Lundeen, Executive Director, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  
• Erin Maguire, Former President, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  
• Pam Reed, President, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  

11:15 AM

Act 173

Overview and updates

• Meagan Roy, Former Chair, Census-Based Funding Advisory Group
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Mental Health Advocacy Day

• Jennifer Colman, Green Mountain Mobile Therapy
  
• Matt Habedank, Director of Early Childhood and School Based Services, Northwestern Counseling and Support Services
  
• Amy Irish, School Based Services Program Manager, Northwestern Counseling and Support Services
  
• Cortney Slobodnjak, Co-Executive Director, Mental Health Counselors Association
  

2:15 PM

Committee Discussion

Continued discussion of upcoming themes and priorities

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

3:00 PM

House Floor

After the Floor

Adjourn

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Thursday, January 30, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Foundation Formula - Best Practices

Joint hearing with House Ways and Means. Hearing hosted in room 270 in the Pavilion and livestreamed on the House Ways and Means YouTube channel.

• Chris Duncombe, Principal, Education Commission of the States
  
• Tammy Kolbe, Principal, American Institutes for Research
  
• Joel Moore, Director of State Relations, Education Commission of the States
  
• Rebecca Sibilia, Executive Director, EdFund
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Committee Meeting

Committee will be joining a webinar hosted by the Council of State Governments on the topic of Education Funding. Meeting will not be recorded.

2:00 PM

History of the Agency of Education

• Armando Vilaseca, Former Secretary, Agency of Education
  

2:40 PM

Break

3:00 PM

House Floor

After the Floor

Adjourn

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Friday, January 31, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

House Floor

10:30 AM

Instructional Scale

• Bill Kimball, Superintendent, Maple Run School District
  
• Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  

11:35 AM

Act 168 of 2024

Updates on Boards of Cooperative Educational Services

• Jill Graham, Executive Director, Vermont Learning Collaborative
  
• Sherry Sousa, Superintendent, Mountain Views Supervisory Union
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

Education Transformation Funding Details

Joint hearing with House Ways and Means. Hearing will be hosted in room 267 in the Pavilion and livestreaned on the House Education YouTube.

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  

3:20 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

House Floor

After Floor

Lunch and Caucuses

1:15 PM

H.129 - An act relating to the State Aid for School Construction Program

Walk-through

• Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:30 PM

H.37 - An act relating to the consolidation of Vermont’s school districts to align with career and technical education service regions

Introduction and walk-through

• Rep. Jim Harrison, Sponsor
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:45 PM

Education Transformation Funding Details

Follow-up discussions

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Amanda Brown, President, APA Consulting
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Justin Silverstein, Co-CEO, APA Consulting
  

3:55 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

H.129 - An act relating to the State Aid for School Construction Program

Committee discussion of language

• Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  

10:00 AM

PCB Testing Program

Updates related to spending

• Matt Chapman, Director of Waste Management & Prevention Division, Department of Environmental Conservation
  
• Trish Coppolino, Senior Environmental Program Manager, Department of Environmental Conservation, Agency of Natural Resources
  

10:30 AM

Break

11:00 AM

Education Governance in Vermont

Considerations and impressions of Agency of Education proposal

• Jennifer Deck Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
  
• Tammy Kolbe, Vice Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

H.122 - An act relating to the sustainable realignment of Vermont’s school districts

Introduction and walk-through

• Rep. Matthew Birong, Co-sponsor
  
• Rep. Edye Graning, Co-sponsor
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:00 PM

Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont

• Meagan Roy, Chair, Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont
  

3:00 PM

House Floor

After Floor

Adjourn

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Thursday, February 6, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Education Finance Testimony

Joint hearing with House Ways and Means on considerations and principles. Hearing will be hosted in room 270 in the Pavilion and livestreamed on the House Ways and Means YouTube channel.

• Heather Bushey, President, Vermont Association of School Business Officials
  
• Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  
• Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
  
• Nicole Mace, School Board Member, Winooski School District
  
• Amy Minor, President, Vermont Superintendents Association
  
• Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  
• Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Education Transformation Proposal: Governance

Testimony on governance policy and Agency of Education role

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  

3:00 PM

House Floor

After Floor

Adjourn

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Friday, February 7, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

House Floor

11:10 AM

Budget Requests

Testimony from post-secondary education institutions

• Patricia Prelock, Interim President, University of Vermont
  
• Sharron Scott, Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Vermont State Colleges System
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Budget Request

• Scott Giles, President, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
  
• Patrick Leduc, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
  

1:30 PM

Advance Vermont Updates

Introductions, updates, and FY2026 budget request

• Tom Cheney, Executive Director, Advance Vermont
  

2:15 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, February 11, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

House Floor

After Floor

Lunch and Caucuses

1:15 PM

State Level Education Oversight Models

Joint hearing with Senate Education. Hearing will be hosted via Zoom and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Joel Moore, Director of State Relations, Education Commission of the States
  
• Zeke Perez, Assistant Policy Director, Education Commission of the States
  

1:50 PM

Break

2:00 PM

Achieving Scale in Public Education

Committee discussion

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

2:50 PM

Break

3:05 PM

H.129 - An act relating to the State Aid for School Construction Program

Committee discussion

• Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

4:00 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

PreKindergarten 101

Walk-through of current Pre-K funding program

• Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

9:40 AM

Break

9:50 AM

Act 168 of 2024

Agency of Education implementation updates on Boards of Cooperative Education Services.

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Lindsey Hedges, Interim Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Agency of Education
  

10:15 AM

Break

10:20 AM

Break

10:30 AM

Education Transformation Proposal: Governance

Follow-up committee discussion on governance proposal

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
  

11:30 AM

Farm to School Awareness Day

FY2026 budget request and testimony from advocates

• Conor Floyd, Grants Program Manager, Child Nutrition Programs, Agency of Education
  
• Dana Hudson, Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network, Shelburne Farms
  
• Rosie Krueger, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs, Agency of Education
  
• Aziza Malik, Teacher, Champlain Elementary
  
• Yvonne Miceler, Student, Champlain Valley Union High School, Member, FEAST Youth Summit Committee
  
• Loretta Seibert, Student, Montpelier High School
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

Cost Drivers and Governance

Committee discussion

3:00 PM

House Floor

After Floor

Adjourn

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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:15 AM

Prekindergarten Education

Report of the Implementation Committee. This will be a joint hearing of the House Committees on Human Services and Education and will be held in Room 11 of the State House and livestreamed on the House Human Services YouTube channel.

• Tammy Bates, Early Education Program Manager, Agency of Education
  
• Morgan Crossman, Executive Director, Building Bright Futures
  
• Sharron Harrington, Executive Director, Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children
  
• Renee Kelly, Head Start Collaboration Director, Child Development Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Janet McLaughlin, Deputy Commissioner, Child Development Division, Department for Children and Families
  
• Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Meg Porcella, Division Director, Student Support Services Division, Agency of Education
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

11:30 AM

Vermont Arts Council

Student testimony on arts education

• Susan Evans McClure, Executive Director, Vermont Arts Council
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Testimony and Agenda Planning

Committee discussion

2:00 PM

Instructional Scale and Governance

Vermont School Board's Association testimony in response to Vermont Superintendents' Association January 31 presentation on instructional scale.

• Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  
• Phil Gore, Chief Learning Officer, Idaho School Boards Association, Former Director of Board Services, Vermont School Boards Association
  

3:00 PM

House Floor

After Floor

Adjourn

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Friday, February 14, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Budget Request

State Board of Education FY2026 Budget Request

• Jennifer Deck Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
  
• Tammy Kolbe, Vice Chair, State Board of Education
  

9:30 AM

House Floor

10:30 AM

H.129 - An act relating to the State Aid for School Construction Program

Testimony and discussion of Sec. 2

• Bob Donohue, School Facilities Program Manager, Agency of Education
  

11:00 AM

Redistricting

• Jay Badams, Superintendent, Norwich/Hanover Interstate School District
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Education Transformation Proposal: District Budgeting

Joint hearing with House Ways and Means, Senate Education, and Senate Finance. Hearing will be hosted via Zoom and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Nate Levinson, President, New Solutions K-12
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  

3:00 PM

Governor's Proposed FY2026 Budget

Agency of Education FY2026 Budget Proposal. Joint Hearing with House Ways and Means to hear the Agency of Education FY2026 Budget Proposal. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube.

• Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Sean Cousino, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education
  

3:45 PM

Adjourn

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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

House Floor

After Floor

Lunch and Caucuses

1:15 PM

H.130 - An act relating to expanding the membership and duties of the Advisory Council on Harassment, Hazing, and Bullying Prevention in Schools

Introduction and walk-through

• Rep. Brian Minier, Sponsor
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

1:45 PM

H.180 - An act relating to the closure of an elementary school

Introduction and walk-through

• Rep. Herb Olson, Sponsor
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

2:30 PM

Testimony and Agenda Planning

Committee discussion

• Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  

3:15 AM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:15 AM

H.87 - An act relating to raising awareness of military-related postsecondary opportunities

Introduction and walk-through

• Rep. Lisa Hango, Sponsor
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

9:30 AM

H.209 - An act relating to intranasal epinephrine in schools

Introduction

• Rep. Leslie Goldman, Sponsor
  

9:45 AM

H.194 - An act relating to high-capacity, gender-neutral restrooms in schools

Introduction and walk-through

• Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  
• Rep. Troy Headrick, Sponsor
  

10:00 AM

H.199 - An act relating to tuition charged by public schools

Introduction and walk-through

• Rep. Elizabeth Burrows, Sponsor
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:15 AM

Committee Discussion

Walk-through of legislative language for potential committee bill

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

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont

Updates from the Commission

• Meagan Roy, Chair, Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont
  

1:45 PM

Break

2:00 PM

Business Management Considerations When Consolidating School Districts

Testimony from Vermont Association of School Business Officials

• Heather Bushey, President, Vermont Association of School Business Officials
  
• Matthew Corrente, Director of Finance and Operations, Addison Central School District
  
• Morgan Daybell, Chief Financial Officer, Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union
  

3:00 PM

House Floor

After Floor

Adjourn

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Thursday, February 20, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

Instructional Scale

Testimony from Vermont's Superintendents Association members

• Libby Bonesteel, Superintendent, Montpelier Roxbury School District
  
• Penny Chamberlin, Superintendent, Orleans Central Supervisory Union
  
• Steven Dellinger-Pate, Superintendent, Washington Central Unified Union School District
  

10:30 AM

Joint Assembly

Election of Sergeant at Arms and UVM Trustees

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Instructional Scale

Testimony from Vermont Superintendent's Association members

• Wendy Baker, Superintendent, Addison Central School District
  
• Elaine Collins, Superintendent, North Country Supervisory Union
  
• Randi Lowe, Superintendent, Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union
  
• Patrick Reen, Superintendent, Mount Abraham Unified School District
  

3:00 PM

House Floor

After Floor

Adjourn

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Friday, February 21, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

House Floor

10:30 AM

Collective Bargaining and Consolidation Challenges

Testimony from the Vermont National Education Association

• Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
  
• Rebecca McBroom, General Council, Vermont National Education Association
  

11:15 AM

District Consolidation and School Boards

Existing and potential legal structures relating to district consolidation and discussion of school board powers

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

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

Committee Discussion

Budget letter planning

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Adjourn

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Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

10:00 AM

House Floor

After Floor

Cauccuses

11:30 AM

Committee Discussion

Continued discussion of budget letter planning

• Amy Shollenberger, Representative, Action Circles
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Career Technical Education Report

Joint hearing with Senate Education and House Commerce and Economic Development. Hearing will be hosted in room 10 in the State House and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Ruth Durkee, State Director of Career Technical Education, Agency of Education
  
• Jennifer Piscatelli, Senior Associate, APA Consulting
  
• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Justin Silverstein, Co-CEO, APA Consulting
  

2:30 PM

Education Transformation Proposal: Governance

Walk-through of proposed language from the Agency of Education. Joint hearing with Senate Education. Hearing will be hosted in room 10 in the State House and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  
• Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
  

4:35 PM

Adjourn

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Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:15 AM

H. - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Walk-through and committee discussion

• Lindsey Hedges, Interim Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Agency of Education
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:00 AM

H.179 - An act relating to the membership of the State Board of Education and the reestablishment of the Vermont Department of Education

Introduction and walk-through

• Rep. Kate McCann, Sponsor
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

10:15 AM

H.54 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Testimony from students and advocates

• Rima Carlson, Family Physician, Montpelier
  
• Benjamin Clark, Member, Harwood Unified Union School District Board, Teacher, Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School
  
• Laura Derrendinger, Advocate, Middletown Springs, Vermont
  
• Ulysses Junker, Student, Thetford Academy
  
• Eliza Knowlten-Young, Student, Thetford Academy
  
• Robin Osborne, Clinical Psychologist, East Thetford
  
• Oliver Ranson, Student, Thetford Academy
  
• Elijah Renner, Student, Thetford Academy
  
• David Thaxton, Student, Thetford Academy
  
• Rebecca Yukica, Pediatrician, Bradford and East Thetford
  

10:30 AM

Break

10:45 AM

Education Transformation Proposal: Language

Committee discussion

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Governor's Proposed FY2026 Budget

Follow-up discussion on Agency of Education FY2026 Proposal

• Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  

2:00 PM

Education Transformation Proposal: Language

Joint hearing with Senate Education. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 in the State House and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

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

3:00 PM

House Floor

3:45 PM

Committee Discussion

Continued discussion of budget letter planning

4:10 PM

Adjourn

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Thursday, February 27, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:00 AM

H.209 - An act relating to intranasal epinephrine in schools

Testimony from Vermont State School Nurses Association

• Kathleen Goodell, School Nurse, Westminster Center School
  
• Kelly McGovern, President, Vermont State School Nurses Association
  

9:15 AM

H.247 - An act relating to cardiac emergency response plans in schools

Introduction and walk-through

• Kathleen Goodell, School Nurse, Westminster Center School
  
• Rep. Anthony "Tony" Micklus, Sponsor
  
• Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  

9:40 PM

Education Reform

• David Sharpe, Former Representative, Addison-4, Former Chair, House Education Committee
  

10:15 AM

Early College Funding

• Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent, Slate Valley Unified School District
  

10:45 AM

Break

11:00 AM

H.129 - An act relating to the State Aid for School Construction Program

Committee discussion

11:30 AM

Early College Funding

Testimony from the Vermont State College System

• Elizabeth Mauch, Chancellor, Vermont State Colleges System
  
• Sharron Scott, Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Vermont State Colleges System
  

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

Special Education and Extraordinary Costs

Joint hearing with Senate Education and House Ways and Means. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 in the State House and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel.

• Kris Benway, President-Elect, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  
• Mary Lundeen, Executive Director, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  
• Jo-Anne Unruh, Former Executive Director, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators, Retired
  

3:00 PM

House Floor

-

Adjourn

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Friday, February 28, 2025

Meeting Details

Hearing Type

Standard

Meeting Record

9:30 AM

House Floor

10:15 AM

Vermont School Explorer Map

Walk-through of map functions

11:15 AM

Education Transformation

Committee discussion of goals and criteria for newly formed districts

12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Special Education

Student testimony

• Alexis Blend, Student, Winooski High School
  
• Annie Schneider, Teacher, Winooski High School
  

1:15 PM

Education Reform

Testimony from members of the Vermont State Youth Council

• Harmony Belle Devoe, Member, Vermont Youth Council
  
• Elizabeth Daley, Member, Vermont Youth Council
  
• Aliyah Ivey-Leake, Member, Vermont Youth Council
  
• Nicole Miller, Executive Director, Vermont Afterschool
  
• Jeremiah Watson, Member, Vermont Youth Council
  

1:45 PM

Adjourn

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