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Senate Committee on Education (Room 28)

The Senate Committee on Education has jurisdiction over matters relating to education, libraries, and literary or scientific subjects.

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Previous Meetings - Full Report

Summary Report
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

Thursday, January 9, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 PM

Joint Assembly

Receive Report of Canvassing Committee

2:00 PM

Joint Assembly

Governor's Inaugural Address

3:45 PM

Senate Floor

Receive Committee Assignments

Friday, January 10, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

Agency of Education Listen and Learn Tour

Joint hearing with House Education Committee. This meeting will take place in Room 11 and be 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
2:45 PM

Committee Discussion

Introductions and overview

-

Adjourn

Tuesday, January 14, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

10:00 AM

Sexual Harassment Prevention Training

Senate Chamber

1:30 PM

No Committee Meeting Scheduled

Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Education Funding

Joint hearing with House Education and Senate Finance. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel
https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • 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
3:15 PM

Committee Discussion

Thursday, January 16, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Foundation Formula

Joint hearing with House Ways and Means, House Education and Senate Finance. Hearing will be hosted in Room 267 in the Pavilion and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • 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
Friday, January 17, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

Education Governance in Vermont

Joint Hearing with House Education. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on 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
  • Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
2:45 PM

Committee Discussion

Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

Followed by Discrimination Prevention Training

1:00 PM

Cradle to Career

Joint hearing with House 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. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • 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

State Board of Education

Role of the State Board of Education and Education Quality Standards

  • Jennifer Deck Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
  • Tammy Kolbe, Vice Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

2:00 PM

Education Quality Standards

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

  • Andrew Jones, Assistant Superintendent, Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District
  • Mike McRaith, Assistant Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
3:00 PM

Committee Discussion

3:45 PM

Legislative Briefing

House Chamber

Thursday, January 23, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Teacher Workforce

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

  • 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
2:45 PM

Education Governance in Vermont

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Friday, January 24, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

Brigham Decision

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

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
1:55 PM

Legislative Priorities

Vermont Superintendents Association, Vermont Principles Association, and Vermont National Education Association introductions and legislative priorities

  • Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  • Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
  • Colin Robinson, Political Director, Vermont National Education Association
  • Donald Tinney, President, Vermont National Education Association
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

Governor's 2026 Budget Address

Joint assembly to receive budget address

2:30 PM

Drawing School District Borders

Joint hearing with House Education. The hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

History of Independent Schools

  • Oliver Olsen, Vermont Independent Schools Association
2:30 PM

Vermont School Board Association

Introduction and overview of legislative priorities

  • Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
3:00 PM

Overview of Recent Education Legislation

Presentation and Committee Discussion

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Thursday, January 30, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Education Transformation Funding Details

Joint hearing with Senate Finance Committee. The hearing will be hosted in room 267 of the Pavilion Building and hosted on the Senate Education YouTube Channel.

  • 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
3:15 PM

Education Finance

Overview
This hearing will be held in the Pavilion Building room 267

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
Friday, January 31, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Independent Schools

  • Colin Igoe, Head of School, Long Trail School
  • Mark Tashjian, Head of School, Burr and Burton Academy
Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

PCBs in Schools

  • 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
2:30 PM

School Construction

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Chris Rupe, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
4:00 PM

Education Funding Report Follow-up

  • 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
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Committee Discussion

2:45 PM

Vermont State Colleges System

VSCS vision for the future

  • Elizabeth Mauch, Chancellor, Vermont State Colleges System
  • Sharron Scott, Chief Financial and Operating Officer, Vermont State Colleges System
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Foundation Formula Best Practices

This will be a joint hearing with Senate Finance. The hearing will be hosted in Room 6. Senate Education will join via Zoom from Room 28. The hearing will be livestreamed on the Senate Finance YouTube Channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-finance

  • Rebecca Sibilia, Executive Director, EdFund
3:00 PM

S.15 - An act relating to providing supplemental reading instruction in all schools

Walkthrough

  • Sen. Martine Larocque Gulick, Sponsor
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:15 PM

S.21 - An act relating to cell phone-free schools

Walkthrough

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Sen. Terry Williams, Sponsor, Senate Committee on Education
Friday, February 7, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

UVM Annual Update

  • Wendy Koenig, Executive Director of Government Relations, University of Vermont
  • Patricia Prelock, Interim President, University of Vermont
2:00 PM

Education Governance in Vermont

  • Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
3:30 PM

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

Introduction and legislative priorities

  • Scott Giles, President, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
  • Patrick Leduc, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

State Level Education Oversight Models

Joint hearing with House Education. This hearing will be livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Joel Moore, Director of State Relations, Education Commission of the States
  • Zeke Perez, Assistant Policy Director, Education Commission of the States
2:00 PM

Instructional Scale

  • Bill Kimball, Superintendent, Maple Run School District
  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
3:15 PM

Independent Schools

  • Sergio Simunovic, Head of School, Greenwood School
  • CJ Spirito, Head of School, Rock Point School
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Vermont Council on the Arts

  • Susan Evans McClure, Executive Director, Vermont Arts Council
  • Madeleine Messier, Student, Bellows Free Academy St. Albans
2:00 PM

Farm to School and Early Childhood Awareness Day

  • Reeve Basom, Center for an Agricultural Economy
  • Gina Clithero, Farm to Institution Program Manager, Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
  • Conor Floyd, Grant Program Manager for Child Nutrition Programs, Agency of Education
  • Bob Hildebrand, SNS Food Service Director, The Abbey Group
  • Rosie Krueger, State Director of Child Nutrition Programs, Agency of Education
  • Sabrina McDonough, Teacher, Shrewsbury Mountain School
  • Betsy Rosenbluth, Farm to School Director, Shelburne Farms, Vermont FEED
3:00 PM

Follow Up of Funding and Governance Policy Proposal

  • Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  • Amanda Brown, President, APA Consulting
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  • Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Committee Discussion

Friday, February 14, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

Education Transformation Proposal: District Budgeting

Joint hearing with House Education, House Ways and Means, and Senate Finance. This hearing will be hosted in Room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  • Nate Levenson, President, New Solutions K-12
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
2:55 PM

Committee Discussion

Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

-

No Committee Meeting Scheduled

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Public Schools - Opportunities and Challenges

  • Sarah Tetzlaff, Principal, Rutland Town School
2:45 PM

Career Technical Education

Introduction to CTE

  • Melissa Connor, Director, Stafford Technical Center
  • Jody Emerson, President, Vermont Association of Career and Technical Directors
  • Scott Farr, Superintendent and Director, River Valley Technical Center School District
  • Patrick Guckin, Director of Career and Technical Education, St. Johnsbury Academy
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:30 AM

Joint Assembly

Election of Sergeant at Arms and UVM Trustees

1:15 PM

Demographics of Vermont

  • Kevin Chu, Executive Director, Vermont Futures Project
2:15 PM

NEK Day

  • Sharon Ellingwood, Board Member, NEK Choice School District
  • Jennifer Lawcewicz, Superintendent, Essex North Supervisory Union
  • Sean McMannon, Superintendent, Kingdom East School District
3:10 PM

S.15 - An act relating to providing supplemental reading instruction in all schools

  • Dorinne Dorfman, Reading/Literacy Specialist and Former Principal
  • Cynthia Gardner-Morse, Literacy Tutor
  • Elyse Perambo, Parent
3:40 PM

Responses to Governor's Education Proposal

  • John Castle, Executive Director, Vermont Rural Education Collaborative
  • Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
  • Oliver Olsen, Vermont Independent Schools Association
Friday, February 21, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

School District Governance

This will be a joint hearing with House Government Operations and Senate Government Operations. The hearing will be hosted in Room 11 and livestreamed on the House Government Operations YouTube Channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-government-operations-and-military-affairs

  • Sarah Copeland Hanzas, Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
  • Lauren Hibbert, Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary of State's Office
  • Thomas Little, Chair, Legislative Apportionment Board
2:50 PM

S.15 - An act relating to providing supplemental reading instruction in all schools

  • Gwen Carmolli, Chair, Advisory Council on Literacy
  • Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

Career Technical Education Report

This will be a joint hearing with House Education and House Commerce and Economic Development. The hearing will be hosted in Room 10 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • 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: Language

Walk-through of proposed language from the Agency of Education. Joint hearing with House Education. Hearing will be hosted in room 10 in the State House and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  • Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
4:30 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

2:05 PM

Education Transformation Proposal: Governance

This will be a joint hearing with House Education. The hearing will be hosted in Room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:10 PM

Education at Scale

  • Katherine Riley, Principal, Champlain Valley Union High School
3:50 PM

Committee Discussion

4:25 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, February 27, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:45 PM

Special Education and Extraordinary Costs

This will be a joint hearing with the House Education and House Ways and Means Committees. The hearing will be hosted in Room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Kris Benway, President-Elect, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  • Mary Lundeen, Executive Director, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  • Jo-Anne Unruh, Former VCSEA Executive Director, retired
3:00 PM

Act 46 of 2015

Overview

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:30 PM

Adjourn

Friday, February 28, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Instructional Scale and Governance

VSBA Testimony on school scale and response to Governor's Education Transformation Proposal

  • 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
2:05 PM

Response to Education Transformation Bill

  • Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
-

Adjourn

Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Confirmation Hearing

Confirmation hearing and vote for Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders.

  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
3:30 PM

Governor's Institutes of Vermont

Introduction to GIV

  • Elizabeth Frascoia, Executive Director, Governor's Institutes of Vermont
  • Max Goodfellow, Alumnus, Governor's Institutes of Vermont
  • Caleb Pincus, Alumnus, Governor's Institutes of Vermont
3:50 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

3:00 PM

Therapeutic Schools

Introduction to Therapeutic Schools and their operations

  • Joe Astick, Executive Director, Maplehill School
  • Drew Gradinger, Director, Kindle Farm School
  • Martha Tucker, Education Director, Maplehill School
4:10 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, March 13, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

3:00 PM

Impacts of Federal Changes

Joint hearing with House Education. This hearing will be hosted in Room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Anne Bordonaro, Federal Education and Support Division Director, Agency of Education
  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  • Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent, Slate Valley Unified School District
3:50 PM

Adjourn

Friday, March 14, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

Union School District Exploration, Formation, and Organization

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:00 PM

The State of Vermont’s Children: 2024 Year in Review

  • Morgan Crossman, Executive Director, Building Bright Futures
3:30 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

S. - An act relating to education transformation

Walkthrough of new Education Bill from Senator Bongartz

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:40 PM

Committee Discussion

3:05 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:00 AM

Senate Floor

1:50 PM

Committee Discussion

3:40 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, March 20, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

10:30 AM

Joint Assembly

Judicial Retention

12:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Introduction to Legal Issues of Redistricting

  • Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Tim Devlin, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:15 PM

Break

2:25 PM

Timeline and Framework for Incremental Change in Vermont's Education System

  • Tom Flanagan, Superintendent, Burlington School District
  • Michael Leichliter, Superintendent, Harwood Unified Union School District
  • Amy Minor, Superintendent, Colchester School District
  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  • Patrick Reen, Superintendent, Mount Abraham Unified School District
4:00 PM

Adjourn

Friday, March 21, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:00 AM

Senate Floor

2:00 PM

S. - An act relating to education transformation

Committee Discussion

  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
3:00 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:35 PM

Career and Technical Education Governance

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:15 PM

Committee Discussion

3:55 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

3:10 PM

Education Governance in Vermont

  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
4:30 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, March 27, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

2:10 PM

Career and Technical Education Governance

Steps to make CTE as successful as possible.

  • Melissa Connor, Director, Stafford Technical Center
  • Jody Emerson, President, Vermont Association of Career and Technical Directors
  • Scott Farr, Superintendent and Director, River Valley Technical Center School District
  • Patrick Guckin, Director of Career and Technical Education, St. Johnsbury Academy
  • Laura Pelosi, Lobbyist, St. Johnsbury Academy
4:15 PM

Adjourn

Friday, March 28, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Advance Vermont Updates

  • Tom Cheney, Executive Director, Advance Vermont
2:13 PM

Break

2:15 PM

Education Governance in Vermont

  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
3:30 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Introduction and walk-through

  • Rep. Peter Conlon, Sponsor
  • Lindsey Hedges, Interim Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Agency of Education
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:15 PM

Break

2:30 PM

S.15 - An act relating to providing supplemental reading instruction in all schools

Walk-through

  • Gwen Carmolli, Chair, Advisory Council on Literacy
  • Dorinne Dorfman, Reading/Literacy Specialist and Former Principal
  • H. Bud Meyers, Director, Lighthouse Evaluation
  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:35 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:35 PM

Early College Experience in Vermont

  • Marley Busker, Student, Community College of Vermont
  • Kimberly Jessup, Advisor to the President, Association of Vermont Independent Colleges
  • Joyce Judy, President, Community College of Vermont
  • Karen Vatz, Associate Director, Center for Academic Success and Achievement, Norwich University
  • Natalee Wells, Student, Community College of Vermont
2:10 PM

S.130 - An act relating to expanding the National Guard Tuition Benefit Program

Introduction and walk-through

  • Hank Harder, Deputy Adjutant General, Office of the Adjutant General
  • Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Sponsor
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Sen. David Weeks, Sponsor
2:50 PM

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

Introduction and walk-through

  • Rep. Leslie Goldman, Sponsor
  • Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:10 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, April 3, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

2:30 PM

Adult Education and Literacy Updates

  • Robin Castle, State Director of Adult Education and Literacy, Agency of Education
  • Michelle Faust, Executive Director, Northeast Kingdom Learning Services
  • Meg Fuerst, Representative, Action Circles
  • Lisa Helme, Student Pathways Division Director, Agency of Education
  • Catherine Kalkstein, Executive Director, Central Vermont Adult Education
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
3:55 PM

Hunger Free Vermont

Budget Request

  • Autumn Moen, Legislative Policy Lead, Hunger Free Vermont
4:20 PM

Adjourn

Friday, April 4, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

S.15 - An act relating to providing supplemental reading instruction in all schools

Committee Discussion

  • Lindsey Hedges, Interim Director of Communications and Legislative Affairs, Agency of Education
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
1:45 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Committee Discussion

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:15 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:45 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Language request to be added into H.480

  • Meg Fuerst, Representative, Action Circles
2:00 PM

Committee Budget Letter

  • Meg Fuerst, Representative, Action Circles
2:15 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Committee Discussion

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:15 PM

Rural School Community Alliance

  • Jeanne Albert, School Board Chair, Lincoln
  • Ryan Heraty, Superintendent, Lamoille South Supervisory Union
  • Jamie Kinnarney, Superintendent, White River Valley Supervisory Union
  • Margaret MacLean, Steering Committee RSCA
5:00 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Impacts of Federal Changes

  • Anne Bordonaro, Federal Education and Support Division Director, Agency of Education
  • Jill Briggs Campbell, Interim Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
2:45 PM

Break

3:05 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Testimony on language regarding cardiac emergency response plans for Vermont schools.

  • Dominic Barcomb, Cardiac Arrest Survivor, Milton High School
  • Matt Howland, Athletic Trainer, Rutland Regional Medical Center
  • Katie McCarthy, Safety Coordinator, Brattleboro High School
  • Rebecca Olmstead, School Nurse Leader, Windham Southeast Supervisory Union
  • Kyle Peckham, Head Athletic Trainer, Rice Memorial High School
  • Jenny Smith, Mother, Milton
  • Tina Zuk, Government Relations Regional Lead, American Heart Association
4:00 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, April 10, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Testimony related to school safety and selection of library materials language in H.480.

  • Sandra Cameron, Associate Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent, Slate Valley Unified School District
1:55 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Testimony related to school safety language in H.480.

  • Courtney O'Brien, Interim Director of Operations, Agency of Education
2:15 PM

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

  • Kaitlyn Kodzis, State School Nurse Consultant, Department of Health
  • Courtney O'Brien, Interim Director of Operations, Agency of Education
  • Jessica Schifano, Policy Director, Department of Health
  • Ilisa Stalberg, Family and Child Health Director, Department of Health
2:40 PM

Break

3:25 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Testimony on language from S.130 being implemented into the Miscellaneous Education Bill.

  • Hank Harder, Deputy Adjutant General, Office of the Adjutant General
  • Daniel Stewart, Education Services Noncommissioned Officer, Vermont National Guard
3:55 PM

Adjourn

Friday, April 11, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

  • Jennifer Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
2:05 PM

School Employee Healthcare

  • Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Flor Diaz Smith, President, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Rebecca McBroom, General Counsel, Vermont National Education Association
2:30 PM

Performance Based Contracts for School Improvement Projects

  • Eric Lafayette, Project Manager, Energy Efficient Investments, Inc.
2:50 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Committee Discussion

3:00 PM

Governor Appointments

Committee Discussion

3:10 AM

Adjourn

Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

Committee Budget Letter

  • Tom Cheney, Executive Director, Advance Vermont
  • Morgan Crossman, Executive Director, Building Bright Futures
  • Jess DeCarolis, Division Director, Student Pathways, Public Education Consulting Services
  • Bernice Garnett, Burack Green & Gold Associate Professor of Education, College of Education and Social Services, University of Vermont
2:35 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Introduction and walk-through of policy language in H.454. This will be a joint hearing with the Senate Finance Committee. The committees will join via zoom and the hearing will be livestreamed on the Senate Finance YouTube Channel. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-finance

  • Rep. Peter Conlon, Chair, House Committee on Education
  • Rep. Emilie Kornheiser, Chair, House Committee on Ways and Means
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:50 PM

Break

4:00 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Kirby Keeton, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
5:00 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, April 16, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Policy walk-through continuation and walk-through of financial elements of H.454. This will be a joint hearing with the Senate Finance Committee. The committees will join via Zoom and the hearing will be livestreamed on the Senate Finance YouTube Channel. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-finance

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
4:00 PM

Adjourn

Due to technical difficulties, the committee was not able to reconvene after a break.

Thursday, April 17, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:50 PM

District Spending Analysis

  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:50 PM

Break

2:55 PM

Committee Discussion

3:00 PM

School Employee Healthcare

Overview of history and current status of legislation regarding negotiations for health benefits.

  • Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Rebecca McBroom, General Counsel, Vermont National Education Association
  • Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:40 PM

Break

4:35 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Testimony on foundation formula weights. This will be a joint hearing with Senate Finance. The committees will join via Zoom and the hearing will be livestreamed on the Senate Education YouTube Channel.

  • Tammy Kolbe, Principal Researcher, American Institutes for Research
6:05 PM

Adjourn

Friday, April 18, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Testimony on the National Guard Tuition Benefit Program

  • Thomas Little, Vice President, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
1:25 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Continuation of walk-through from Tuesday 4/15.

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:00 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Testimony on literacy language in the miscellaneous education bill, formerly from S.15.

  • Gwen Carmolli, Chair, Advisory Council on Literacy
  • Cynthia Gardner-Morse, Literacy Tutor
  • Emily Lesh, Project Manager, Act 28 Literacy Initiative, Agency of Education
  • Emily Leute, PBL English/Language Arts Coordinator, Agency of Education
3:40 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

  • Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Cheryl Charles, Chair, Westminster School Board
  • Flor Diaz Smith, President, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
  • Jamie Kinnarney, Superintendent, White River Valley Supervisory Union
  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  • Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
  • Nicol Whalen, Vice Chair, Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union Board
3:35 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Walk-through of changes and committee discussion

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Tina Zuk, Government Relations Regional Lead, American Heart Association
4:05 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, April 23, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:35 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Agency of Education response

  • Jill Briggs Campbell, Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  • Amanda Brown, President, APA Consulting
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
2:35 PM

Break

2:45 PM

Pupil Weighting

  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
3:50 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, April 24, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

3:00 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Walk-through of amendments

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
4:25 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Updates on foundation formula

  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
5:55 PM

Committee Discussion

6:10 PM

Adjourn

Friday, April 25, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Student testimony. Joint hearing with House Education Committee. Hearing will be hosted in room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube channel. For the most up-to-date witness list, please refer to the House Education Committee agenda. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Ada Allen, Student, Craftsbury Academy
  • Morgan Cable, Student, Long Trail School
  • Ari Chapin, Student, U-32 Middle & High School
  • Arena Coryer, Student, Colchester High School
  • Madeline Crank, Student, Hazen Union High School
  • Hibo Dahir, Student, Champlain Valley Union High School
  • Max Demaine, Student, Lake Region Union High School
  • Pankti Desai, Student, Essex High School
  • Zoe Epstein, Student, Champlain Valley Union High School
  • Naomi Fitzpatrick, Student, Long Trail School
  • Raz Gletsos, Student, Craftsbury Academy
  • Evan Hare, Student, The Sharon Academy
  • Oryon Hart, Student, Craftsbury Academy
  • Iris Jacobs, Student, Craftsbury Academy
  • Rue Jacobs, Student, Craftsbury Academy
  • Adam Karle, Student, Mount Holly Elementary School
  • Gavin Keep, Student, The Sharon Academy
  • Logan Martes, Student, Woodstock Union High School
  • Eddie McGrath, Student, Montpelier High School
  • Raz Mille, Student, Craftsbury Academy
  • Chloe Ngu, Student, Champlain Valley Union High School
  • Nicole Richie Asiimwe, Student, Champlain Valley Union High School
  • Willow Sharma, Student, Brattleboro Union High School
  • Jacoby Soter, Student, Bellows Free Academy St. Albans
  • Lylah Zeitlin, Student, Woodstock Union High School
2:30 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Mark-up

  • Meg Fuerst, Representative, Action Circles
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
4:10 PM

Committee Discussion

Votes on Gubernatorial Appointments and other miscellaneous comments.

  • Oliver Olsen, Vermont Independent Schools Association
4:30 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 PM

Senate Floor

1:05 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Foundation formula scenarios applied to current districts.

  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
1:35 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Walk-through of amendments

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:00 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Walk-through of Finance Proposal

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
3:00 PM

Break

3:10 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Walk-through of amendments, continued

  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
4:15 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Committee Discussion

4:50 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

3:35 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Walk-through of changes, discussion

  • Sen. Scott Beck, Senator, Caledonia District
  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Oliver Olsen, Vermont Independent Schools Association
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
4:50 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
5:20 PM

Break

5:30 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Walk-through of financial proposal

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Oliver Olsen, Vermont Independent Schools Association
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
6:15 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, May 1, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

3:00 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Discussion, mark-up

  • Jill Briggs Campbell, Director of Operations, Agency of Education
  • Amanda Brown, President, APA Consulting
  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Oliver Olsen, Former Representative and Former Chair of the State Board of Education, Vermont Independent Schools Association
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
5:30 PM

Adjourn

Friday, May 2, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

2:00 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Mark-up

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Laura Pelosi, Lobbyist, St. Johnsbury Academy
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:15 PM

Break

3:45 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Discussion, possible vote

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
4:00 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

2:30 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Walk-through of changes and new language. Testimony on cardiac emergency response plans language, as well as public school employee health benefits bargaining.

  • Sandra Cameron, Associate Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
  • Jolie Frechette, Lobbyist, The Mill School
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Tina Zuk, Government Relations Regional Lead, American Heart Association
4:00 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:50 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Testimony on language regarding cardiac emergency response plans.

  • Sunni Eriksen, School Safety Program Manager, Vermont School Safety Center
  • Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
  • Courtney O'Brien, Interim Director of Operations, Agency of Education
  • Tina Zuk, Government Relations Regional Lead, American Heart Association
3:00 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Testimony on language relating to school employee health benefits bargaining.

  • Joseph McNeil, Attorney/Chief Negotiator, Vermont Educational Employees Health Care Commission
  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  • Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
3:20 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Walk-through of new language

  • Jolie Frechette, Lobbyist, The Mill School
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:40 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, May 8, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

2:30 PM

Governor Appointments

Report and vote on nomination of Jason Maulucci for Trustee of the University of VT and Agricultural College Board of Trustees.

2:35 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Walk-through of language changes

  • Jolie Frechette, Lobbyist, The Mill School
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:45 PM

Break

3:00 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Committee discussion; testimony on language relating to H.54

  • Rep. Peter Conlon, Chair, House Committee on Education
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:30 PM

Committee Discussion

  • Jill Sudhoff-Guerin, Member, Vermont Medical Society
4:00 PM

Adjourn

Friday, May 9, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

Special Education Spending

This will be a joint hearing with the House Education Committee. The hearing will be hosted in Room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Amanda Brown, President, APA Consulting
  • Sean Cousino, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education
  • Alicia Hanrahan, Education Programs Manager and Interagency Coordinator, Agency of Education
  • Jennifer Hicks, Data Management and Analysis Division Director, Agency of Education
  • Meg Porcella, Student Support Services Division Director, Agency of Education
  • Cassie Santo, State Director of Special Education, Agency of Education
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
2:30 PM

Medicaid Funding in Education

This will be a joint hearing with the House Education Committee. The hearing will be hosted in Room 11 and livestreamed on the House Education YouTube Channel. https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Ashley Berliner, Director of Medicaid Policy, Agency of Human Services
  • Cassandra Ryan, Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education
  • Kate Smith, Education Medicaid Director, Agency of Education
2:55 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Committee discussion

-

Adjourn

Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

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

Refresher introduction to the bill.

  • Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
1:50 PM

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

Introduction and walk-through

  • Rep. Peter Conlon, Chair, House Committee on Education
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:50 PM

Break

3:00 PM

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

  • Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Benjamin Clark, Frederick H. Tuttle Middle School
  • Ryan Heraty, Superintendent, Lamoille South Supervisory Union
  • Mike McRaith, Associate Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
  • Colin Robinson, Political Director, Vermont National Education Association
  • Harris Strokoff, Psychiatrist and Medical Director, NCSS, Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist, Green State Psychiatry
4:25 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

2:00 PM

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

Vote

  • Kaitlyn Kodzis, State School Nurse Consultant, Department of Health
  • Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Courtney O'Brien, Interim Director of Operations, Agency of Education
2:20 PM

Break

2:25 PM

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

  • Liza Earle-Centers, Local Parent Advocate, Vermont Coalition of Phone and Social Media-Free Schools
  • Oliver Olsen, Representative, Vermont Independent Schools Association
3:20 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Mark-up

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:50 PM

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

Committee Discussion

  • Rep. Angela Arsenault, Sponsor
4:30 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, May 15, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

2:00 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Mark-up

  • Oliver Olsen, Representative, Vermont Independent Schools Association
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Tina Zuk, Government Relations Regional Lead, American Heart Association
2:25 PM

Break

2:30 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Vote

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:45 PM

Adjourn

Friday, May 16, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:20 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Walk-through; This will be a joint hearing with the Senate Appropriations Committee. The committees will join via Zoom and the hearing will be livestreamed on the Senate Appropriations YouTube channel https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-appropriations

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Kirby Keeton, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:00 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Walk-through of floor amendment

  • Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor
3:15 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

1:50 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Agency of Education testimony on amendment proposed by Sen. Hardy.

  • Ruth Durkee, State Director of Career Technical Education, Agency of Education
  • Jody Emerson, President, Vermont Association of Career and Technical Directors
  • Nicole MacTavish, Superintendent and Director, Patricia A. Hannaford Regional Technical School District
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
4:00 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, May 21, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

2:00 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Walk-through and discussion of amendment regarding language on selecting a new Secretary of Education.

  • Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:35 PM

H.480 - An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to education law

Walk-through of amendment relating to CTE

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:20 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, May 22, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

12:25 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Walk-through of amendment proposed by Senator Hardy. This will be a joint hearing with the Senate Finance Committee. The committees will join via Zoom, and the hearing will be hosted on the Senate Education YouTube Channel.

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor
  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Kirby Keeton, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Julia Richter, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
1:55 PM

Break

2:15 PM

H.454 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems

Walk-through of amendment proposed by Senator Hardy.

  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
4:00 PM

Senate Floor

-

Adjourn

Friday, May 23, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

4:00 PM

Senate Floor

Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

Thursday, May 29, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

Friday, May 30, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

Wednesday, November 12, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:15 AM

Student Panel

Topic: What's working for you? What isn't? What challenges do you face? Student voices highlighting both the strengths and challenges of learning in a small, rural school. Opportunity for Committee members to hear directly from students about their experiences.

11:00 AM

School Tour

Guided tour of Canaan Memorial Schools

11:30 AM

Lunch

Senate Education joins students in the cafeteria to share a meal and informal conversation. A firsthand look at their school community and daily routines.

12:15 PM

Educator and Leadership Discussion

Roundtable with Elementary, High School, CTE Teachers, Principal, Superintendent, After School Program Coordinator (EPIC).

Topics include:
How CTE and educational programs create real opportunities in rural Vermont
Innovative ways schools provide quality education despite geographic and resource limitations
Strengths of the "small by necessity" model and how schools adapt to meet diverse student needs

1:30 PM

School Board

2:00 PM

Public Forum

Open session for community members, parents, and stakeholders. A chance for the public to share perspectives on Canaan's successes, challenges, and the importance of sustaining small, rural schools. Written testimony is welcome, please send via email.

3:25 PM

End of School Visit

Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

We are MVSU Slide Deck

Teachers and elementary students in the library

11:40 AM

Break

11:45 AM

Fishbowl with High School Students

12:20 PM

Faculty Questions: Equity Sticks

12:45 PM

Lunch with Students

1:00 PM

Students and Senators Go to Class Together

1:30 PM

School Tour

Building tour with Joe Rigoli, Director of Buildings and Grounds

2:00 PM

Public Comment

Written testimony is welcome, please send via email to lindsey.schreier@vtleg.gov

4:00 PM

End of School Visit

Friday, December 5, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:00 AM

Arrive at Rutland High School, Room "Red 20"

Coffee, water, and pastries from STC's culinary program will be provided.

9:20 AM

Tour of Stafford Technical Center

Student led tour and sharing of information about specific programs and their experiences

10:15 AM

Tour of Rutland High School

Student led tour and sharing of information about specific programs and creative pathways for their success

11:00 AM

Learning More About Student Learning Opportunities

11:20 AM

Leave "Main Campus" to Visit Two RCPS Programs Off-Site

Learn more about programs at each campus and hear from students about their experiences and the program

12:45 PM

Travel to Rutland High School and Break

1:00 PM

Lunch & Learn

With students at Allen Street Campus (program for students grades 5-12)

1:30 PM

Dialog and Conversation with Staff

Programs and supports for all RCPS students

2:30 PM

Break and Prep for Public Comment at RHS

2:45 PM

Public Comment

Room "Red 20" at RHS. Written testimony is welcome, please send via email to lindsey.schreier@vtleg.gov

4:30 PM

End of School Visit

Monday, December 8, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Arrival

Meet and Greet with CVUHS Administration and Senate Education

9:45 AM

Student Engagement Presentation

10:10 AM

Advisory - Small Communities Within a Big School

10:45 AM

School Tour

11:15 AM

Classroom Visits

12:00 PM

Panel Conversation

12:15 PM

Student Socratic Discussion

1:00 PM

Lunch with Students

1:30 PM

Public Comment

1:45 PM

Teacher/Staff Panel

2:30 PM

Public Comment

Written testimony is welcome, please send via email to lindsey.schreier@vtleg.gov.

3:15 PM

End of School Visit

Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Arrival

Meet and Greet with WRVSU Administration and Senate Education

9:45 AM

Student Panel

Q and A with Senate Education and WRVSU 9-12 students from across the WRVSU

10:30 AM

Student-led Tour of Royalton Campus

Tour of facility and classrooms PreK-5 and 9-12

11:30 AM

Lunch

Cafeteria with students

12:15 PM

Panel Conversation

Q and A with Senate Education and WRVSU Teachers

1:00 PM

Panel Conversation

Q and A with Senate Education and WRVSU Principals

1:45 PM

Panel Conversation

Follow-up Q and A with Senate Education and Superintendent

2:00 PM

Break

2:30 PM

Public Comment

Written testimony is welcome, please send via email to lindsey.schreier@vtleg.gov.

4:30 PM

End of School Visit

Tuesday, January 6, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Act 73 of 2025

Review

  • Jon Gray, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Ezra Holben, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:30 PM

Committee Discussion

Session priorities

4:00 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

2:00 PM

Governor's State of the State Address

Joint Assembly

3:15 PM

State Aid For School Construction Working Group

Update

  • David Epstein, Member, State Aid For School Construction Working Group
  • Michael Gaughan, Executive Director, Vermont Bond Bank
4:00 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, January 8, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

After Floor

School District Redistricting Task Force

Joint hearing with House Education
Hearing will be held in Room 11 and will be livestreamed on the House Education YouTube page: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

  • Jay Badams, Member, School District Redistricting Task Force
  • Rep. Edye Graning, Co-Chair, School District Redistricting Task Force
  • Sen. Martine Larocque Gulick, Co-Chair, School District Redistricting Task Force
3:00 PM

Adjourn

Friday, January 9, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

VT School District Redistricting Task Force Report

Joint hearing with House Education
Hearing will be held in the Pavilion Building, Room 270 and will be livestreamed on the Senate Education YouTube page
Report and Act 73 of 2025 discussion;
Legislative priorities

  • Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
  • Jay Nichols, Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
3:00 PM

Break

3:05 PM

VT School District Redistricting Task Force Report

Joint hearing with House Education (continued)
Hearing will be held in the Pavilion Building, Room 270 and will be livestreamed on the Senate Education YouTube page
Report and Act 73 of 2025 discussion

  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
3:55 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

Followed by mandatory training

1:15 PM

Vermont Superintendents Association Update

Joint hearing with House Education
Hearing will be held in Room 10 and will be livestreamed on the Senate Education YouTube page: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-education

Report and Act 73 of 2025 discussion;
Legislative priorities

  • Patrick Reen, Trustee, Vermont Superintendents Association
1:45 PM

Farm to School Awareness Day

Joint hearing with House Education (continued)
Hearing will be held in Room 10 and will be livestreamed on the Senate Education YouTube page: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-education

  • Alyson Gryzb, Director, Bennington Early Childhood Center
  • Dana Hudson, Vermont Farm to School and Early Childhood Network, Shelburne Farms
  • Michael Leichliter, Superintendent, Harwood Unified Union School District
  • Ian Rose, Child Nutrition Director, Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union
  • Julia Wulff, Student - Harwood Union High School
2:20 PM

Break

2:30 PM

Vermont Superintendents Update

Joint hearing with House Education (continued)
Hearing will be held in Room 10 and will be livestreamed on the Senate Education YouTube page: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-education

Educational opportunities discussion;
School District Redistricting Task Force Report and Act 73 of 2025 discussion

  • Adam Bunting, Superintendent, Champlain Valley School District
  • Jamie Kinnarney, Superintendent, White River Valley Supervisory Union
  • Tim Payne, Superintendent, Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union
  • Pam Reed, Superintendent, Rutland City School District
  • Sherry Sousa, Superintendent, Mountain Views Supervisory Union
4:35 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Agency of Education Update

Reorganization of Agency of Education; Career Technical Education; Legislative priorities

  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
3:05 PM

Break

3:15 PM

Agency of Education Update

Reorganization of Agency of Education; Career Technical Education; Legislative priorities (continued)

  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
3:40 PM

Break

3:45 PM

S.161 - An act relating to the Governor’s list of scholarship granting organizations

Introduction and walk-through

  • Sen. Seth Bongartz, Senator, Sponsor
  • Kirby Keeton, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
4:15 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, January 15, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

Agency of Education

Joint hearing with House Education
Hearing will be held in Room 10 and will be livestreamed on the House Education YouTube page: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education
Act 73 of 2025 Agency of Education Mapping

  • John Adams, Director, Center for Geographic Information, Agency of Digital Services
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
2:10 PM

Break

2:35 PM

Committee Discussion

3:20 PM

Adjourn

Friday, January 16, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont

Update

  • Rep. Peter Conlon, Chair, Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont
  • Jay Nichols, Chair, Commission on the Future of Public Education in Vermont
2:05 PM

Break

2:15 PM

Building Bright Futures

Updates and priorities

  • Morgan Crossman, Executive Director, Building Bright Futures
2:45 PM

Break

3:00 PM

Vermont State Colleges System

Update and priorities

  • Elizabeth Mauch, Chancellor, Vermont State Colleges System
--

Adjourn

Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

Governor's 2027 Budget Address

Joint Assembly, House Chamber

2:05 PM

School District Mapping

Career and Technical Education (CTE Regions)
as School District Boundaries Map

  • Sen. Scott Beck, Senator, School District Redistricting Task Force
2:40 PM

School District Mapping

Response to Agency of Education mapping update

  • Jeanne Albert, Steering Committee Member, Rural School Community Alliance
  • Cheryl Charles, Chair, Rural School Community Alliance
  • Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
  • Margaret MacLean, Steering Committee Member, Rural School Community Alliance
  • Jay Nichols, Senior Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
4:15 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:55 PM

Vermont Student Assistance Corporation

Update and priorities

  • Scott Giles, President, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
  • Thomas Little, Vice President, General Counsel, Vermont Student Assistance Corporation
2:40 PM

Building Bright Futures

Updates and priorities continued

  • Morgan Crossman, Executive Director, Building Bright Futures
  • Matt Levin, Executive Director, Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance
3:35 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, January 22, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

S.232 - An act relating to public libraries and the Department of Libraries

Introduction and walk-through

  • Catherine Delneo, Commissioner and State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries
  • Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sponsor, Addison County
  • Amy Williams, Vice President, Vermont Library Association
  • Margaret Woodruff, Chair, Government Relations and Advocacy Committee, Vermont Library Association
2:15 PM

Break

2:20 PM

Vermont Superintendents Association

Joint hearing with House Education
Hearing will be held in Room 11 and will be livestreamed on the Senate Education YouTube page

Response to Agency of Education mapping update

  • Amy Minor, President, Vermont Superintendents Association
  • Brooke Olsen-Farrell, President-Elect, Vermont Superintendents Association
  • Patrick Reen, Trustee, Vermont Superintendents Association
3:05 PM

Break

3:10 PM

NEK Day

With school district mapping discussion

  • Sharon Ellingwood, School Board Member, NEK Choice School District
  • Miles Etter, Chair, ENSU and NEK Choice Boards
  • Martha VanderWolk, School Board Member, Canaan School Board
3:40 PM

School District Mapping

Response to Agency of Education mapping update

  • Elaine Collins, Superintendent, North Country Supervisory Union
4:15 PM

Adjourn

Friday, January 23, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:05 PM

School District Mapping

Response to Agency of Education mapping update

  • Ryan Heraty, Superintendent, Lamoille South Supervisory Union
  • Jamie Kinnarney, Superintendent, White River Valley Supervisory Union
  • Layne Millington, Superintendent, Two Rivers Supervisory Union
  • Sherry Sousa, Superintendent, Mountain Views Supervisory Union
2:20 PM

Vermont School Board Association

Response to Agency of Education mapping update

  • Flor Diaz Smith, President, Vermont School Board Association Board of Directors
  • Meghan Metzler, Vice President, Vermont School Board Association Board of Directors
2:50 PM

Break

3:00 PM

Economic Consequences of Mergers

  • Grace Miller, Undergraduate Researcher and High School Mathematics Teacher
3:30 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:05 PM

Committee Discussion

2:10 PM

Break

2:15 PM

Security Briefing

This item will not be livestreamed due to sensitive content.

  • Agatha Kessler, Sergeant at Arms, Vermont General Assembly
  • Sara Macera, Capitol Police Department
  • John Poleway, Chief of Capitol Police, Capitol Police Department
  • Joe Tremblay, Capitol Police Officer, Capitol Police Department
3:25 PM

Break

3:35 PM

FY27 Budget

Joint Hearing with House Education Committee
The hearing will take place in Room 11 and be livestreamed on the House Education Committee's YouTube page: https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/house-education

Agency of Education FY27 Budget Presentation

  • Jill Briggs Campbell, Deputy Secretary, Agency of Education
  • Sean Cousino, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education
  • Cassandra Ryan, Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education
4:25 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:35 PM

Excess Spending Adjustment

  • Julia Richter, Principal Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
2:20 PM

Break

2:30 PM

Small and Sparsity Necessity Rules

  • Tammy Kolbe, Small Schools and Sparse Schools Standards Committee, State Board of Education
  • Jennifer Samuelson, Chair, Vermont State Board of Education
3:15 PM

Child Care in Rural Vermont

  • Janet McLaughlin, Deputy Commissioner, Child Development Division, Department for Children and Families
  • Aly Richards, Board Chair, Let's Grow Kids Action Network
  • Erin Roche, Vermont Director, First Children's Finance
4:35 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, January 29, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Mental Health Advocacy Day

  • Angela Filion, Principal, Allen Brook Elementary School
  • Jason Gingold, Principal, Montpelier Middle and High School
2:00 PM

S.161 - An act relating to the Governor’s list of scholarship granting organizations

Vote

  • Kirby Keeton, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
2:25 PM

Break

2:30 PM

School District Mapping

Act 73 of 2025 and mapping

  • John Adams, Director, Center for Geographic Information, Agency of Digital Services
3:00 PM

S.313 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system

Introduction and walk-through

  • Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Sponsor
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:55 PM

Adjourn

Friday, January 30, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

S.214 - An act relating to the provision of prekindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts

Introduction, walk-through, and discussion

  • Sharon Ellingwood, School Board Member, NEK Choice School District
  • Janet McLaughlin, Deputy Commissioner, Child Development Division, Department for Children and Families
  • Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Sponsor
  • Erin Roche, Vermont Director, First Children's Finance
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:15 PM

S.232 - An act relating to public libraries and the Department of Libraries

Walk-through and discussion

  • Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Catherine Delneo, Commissioner and State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries
3:10 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators

Act 73 of 2025 and Special Education

  • Kris Benway, President, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  • Heather Freeman, President Elect, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  • Mary Lundeen, Executive Director, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
  • Erin Maguire, Past President, Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators
2:05 PM

Career Technical Education

  • Erik Remmers, Director, Green Mountain Tech
2:30 PM

S.227 - An act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools

Introduction

  • Sen. Martine Larocque Gulick, Sponsor
  • Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sponsor
2:55 PM

Break

3:00 PM

Governor's Institutes of Vermont

  • Jeremiah Breer, Board Member and Alumnus, Governor's Institutes of Vermont
  • Melanie Centeno, Board Member, Alumnus, and Parent of Alumnus, Governor's Institutes of Vermont
  • Elizabeth Frascoia, Executive Director, Governor's Institutes of Vermont
  • Henry Gogo, Alumnus, Governor's Institutes of Vermont
  • Evianna Reiter, Alumnus, Governor's Institutes of Vermont
3:35 PM

Break

3:40 PM

S.227 - An act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools

Walk-through

  • Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
4:00 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Health Care Costs

  • Sen. Virginia "Ginny" Lyons, Chair, Senate Committee on Health and Welfare
2:10 PM

Career and Technical Education Governance

  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
2:35 PM

Break

3:10 PM

University of Vermont Annual Update

  • Wendy Koenig, Executive Director of Government Relations, University of Vermont
  • Marlene Tromp, President, University of Vermont
4:05 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, February 5, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Special Education Report

Act 73 of 2025 Special Education Report:
Overview, Special Education Strategic Plan, and Next Steps

  • Erin Davis, Chief Academic Officer, Agency of Education
  • Ted Gates, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Agency of Education
  • Kelly Murphy, Director of Education Finance, Agency of Education
  • Ana Russo, Technical Assistance and Professional Development Manager for the Special Education Division, Agency of Education
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
2:30 PM

Vermont Outdoor Recreation Day

  • Brian Lamoureux, Outdoor Careers Program Manager, Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance
  • Brad Moskowitz, Professor and Program Coordinator, Outdoor Education, Leadership, and Tourism; Vermont State University
  • Carson Zundel, Student, Vermont State University, Outdoor Education and Leadership Program
3:00 PM

Break

3:10 PM

S.313 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system

  • Seth Bowden, President, Vermont Business Roundtable
  • Tom Cheney, Executive Director, Advance Vermont
3:40 PM

Adjourn

Friday, February 6, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

Finding Savings Through Shared Services

  • Ben Kinsley, Executive Director, Campaign for Vermont
2:35 PM

Role of Therapeutic Schools

  • Elias Gardner, Director, The New School of Montpelier
  • Elisa Walker, School Director, The Mill School
3:10 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:00 PM

State Board Authority to Require District Mergers

  • Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Beth St. James, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
1:35 PM

Break

1:45 PM

Allowable Tuition Report

  • Sean Cousino, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, Agency of Education
  • Ted Gates, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Agency of Education
2:15 PM

School District Mapping

Response to House Education Proposed Map

  • Jay Nichols, Senior Executive Director, Vermont Principals' Association
2:40 PM

Break

3:15 PM

S.259 - An act relating to online driver education

Introduction and Walk-through

  • Sen. Wendy Harrison, Bill Sponsor
  • Damien Leonard, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
3:45 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:30 PM

Disability Advocacy Day

  • Cammie Naylor, Staff Attorney, Disability Law Project, Vermont Legal Aid
2:00 PM

School District Mapping

Response to House Education Proposed Map

  • Lynn Cota, Superintendent, Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union
  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
  • Brooke Olsen-Farrell, Superintendent, Slate Valley Unified School District
  • Sheila Soule, Superintendent, Addison Northwest School District
2:25 PM

Break

3:00 PM

S.232 - An act relating to public libraries and the Department of Libraries

Witness Testimony

  • Catherine Delneo, Commissioner and State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries
  • Johannes Haensch, Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Manager, Agency of Education
3:45 PM

School District Mapping

Introduction of House Education Proposed Map

  • Rep. Peter Conlon, Sponsor
4:10 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, February 12, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

2:15 PM

S.227 - An act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools

Witness Testimony

  • Toren Ballard, Director of Policy and Communications, Agency of Education
  • Rebecca Callahan, Professor, Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, University of Vermont
  • Wilmer Chavarria, Superintendent, Winooski School District
  • Robert Millar, Board President, Winooski School District
  • Courtney O'Brien, Safe and Healthy Schools Interim Director, Agency of Education
  • Emily Simmons, General Counsel, Agency of Education
  • Julio Thompson, Director, Civil Rights Unit, Office of the Attorney General
3:50 PM

Break

4:00 PM

School District Mapping

Response to House Education Proposed Map

  • Sue Ceglowski, Executive Director, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Flor Diaz Smith, President, Vermont School Board Association Board of Directors
  • Jeff Fannon, Executive Director, Vermont National Education Association
4:40 PM

Adjourn

Friday, February 13, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:05 PM

UP for Learning

A Central Vermont Youth Vision for a Future-Facing Education

  • Shota Armstrong, Student, Randolph Union High School
  • Skyler Barnard, Student, Montpelier High School
  • Michael Clark, Superintendent, Orange Southwest Supervisory Union
  • Schala Fadden, Student, Randolph Union High School
  • Lindsey Halman, Executive Director, UP for Learning
  • Katie Ingraham, Program Director, UP for Learning
  • Gideon Kass, Student, Montpelier High School
  • Matt McLane, Flexible Pathways Administrator, Montpelier High School
  • Kara Merrill, Director of Student Services, School Counselor Grades 10-12, Randolph Union High School
  • Allegra Muller, Student, Montpelier High School
  • Harold Quayle, Student, Randolph Union High School
  • Olivia Schamberg, Student, Montpelier High School
  • Meredith Scott, Operations Director, UP for Learning
  • Otis Taylor, Student, Montpelier High School
  • Zoey Tremblay, Student, Randolph Union High School
1:30 PM

School District Mapping

Response to House Education Proposed Map

  • Bob Chutter, Board Chair, Grand Isle Supervisory Union
  • Dan McArthur, Board Chair, Marlboro School District
  • Eric Montbriand, Board Chair, Wells Springs School District
  • Stacey Peters, Chair, Granville-Hancock Unified School District Board
  • Lisa Ruud, Superintendent, Grand Isle Supervisory Union
2:25 PM

Break

2:30 PM

School District Mapping

Response to House Education Proposed Map (Continued)

  • Ada Allen, Student, Craftsbury Academy
  • Lisa McCarthy, Principal, Craftsbury
3:00 PM

Adjourn

Tuesday, February 17, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
9:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

S.232 - An act relating to public libraries and the Department of Libraries

Mark-up

  • Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Catherine Delneo, Commissioner and State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries
  • Cal Hale, Lobbyist, Vermont Library Association
1:55 PM

S.227 - An act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools

Witness Testimony

  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
2:05 PM

S.313 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system

Witness Testimony

  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
2:45 PM

Break

2:55 PM

S.313 - An act relating to transforming Vermont’s career technical education system

Witness Testimony (continued)

  • Jay Ramsey, Director of Workforce Development, Vermont Department of Labor
3:05 PM

Committee Discussion

3:45 PM

Adjourn

Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:45 PM

S.227 - An act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools

Discussion and Mark-up

  • Rik Sehgal, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Julio Thompson, Director, Civil Rights Unit, Office of the Attorney General
2:30 PM

S.232 - An act relating to public libraries and the Department of Libraries

  • Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
  • Catherine Delneo, Commissioner and State Librarian, Vermont Department of Libraries
3:00 PM

Committee Discussion

3:50 PM

Adjourn

Thursday, February 19, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:30 AM

Joint Assembly

Election of VSC Trustees and Adjutant and Inspector General

1:00 PM

Senate Floor

1:35 PM

Antisemitism in Vermont K-12

  • David Fainsilber, Jewish Community of Greater Stowe
  • Heidi Fishman, Board Member, Holocaust Memorial
  • Samantha Joseph, Regional Director, ADL New England
  • Lex Leiken, Student
  • Maggie Lenz, Lobbyist, Shalom Alliance
  • Beth Liberman, Exective Director, Jewish Communities of Vermont
  • Vera Windish
  • Alex Young, Student
3:05 PM

Break

3:10 PM

S.259 - An act relating to online driver education

Witness Testimony

  • Joseph Barch, Executive Director, Vermont Driver Education and Safety Education Association
  • Jim Carter, Retired Teacher
  • Dan Goodman, Manager of Public Affairs, AAA Northern New England
  • Ellie Hayes, Student, Williamstown Middle High School
  • Gage Huard, Student, Williamstown Middle High School
  • Billie Manchester, Student, Williamstown Middle High School
  • Kevin Masse, President-Elect, Vermont Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association
  • Justin McLane, Highway Safety Program Specialist, Department of Motor Vehicles, Agency of Transportation
  • Pat McManamon, Highway Education Program Manager, Department of Motor Vehicles, Agency of Transportation
  • Tammy Pregent, Education Consultant, Agency of Education
  • Andrew Prowten, State Director of Education Approvals, Agency of Education
5:00 PM

Committee Discussion

5:30 PM

Adjourn

Friday, February 20, 2026
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
11:30 AM

Senate Floor

1:15 PM

Free Degree Promise

CCV Accelerated Degree Pathways and Careers in K-12 Education

  • Rebecca Copans, Special Projects Manager, McClure Foundation
  • Ruby Hall, Student - STEM Studies, Early College/Free Degree Promise
  • Aunika Higbee, Free Degree Promise
  • Joyce Judy, President, Community College of Vermont
  • Brennan Swaim , Free Degree Promise
1:45 PM

Special Education Report

Act 73 of 2025 Special Education Report:
Overview, Special Education Strategic Plan, and Next Steps

  • Erin Davis, Chief Academic Officer, Agency of Education
  • Ted Gates, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Agency of Education
  • Katie McCarthy, Early Childhood Special Education Program Manager, Agency of Education
  • Kelly Murphy, Director of Education Finance, Agency of Education
  • Zoie Saunders, Secretary, Agency of Education
2:45 PM

Break

2:55 PM

S.227 - An act relating to creating immigration protocols in Vermont schools

Witness Testimony

  • Mark Koenig, Director of Policy Services & Legislative Affairs, Vermont School Boards Association
  • Chelsea Myers, Executive Director, Vermont Superintendents Association
3:15 PM

Adjourn

2025-2026 Session

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