Our School

The recent school consolidation bill promised to lower our taxes. Then it promised equal opportunity for all kids. It’s unclear how it will deliver on either of these promises, but one thing is sure. It could radically change culture in small town Vermont. This is a show about some of the long-term political and cultural effects of Act 46. Comments: To make a comment or to see comments, scroll to the bottom of this page. THE SHOW: Click here to listen to the show. THE OUTTAKES: For a more in-depth review, here is a rough edit of my full interview with Superintendent John Castle: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/234201298″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”300″ height=”200″ iframe=”true” /] Credits Lincoln Petell is the chairman of the school board in Holland, Vermont Susan Clark is a facilitator, educator, and the co-author of “Slow Democracy: Rediscovering Community, Bringing Decision Making Back Home.” She is also Town Moderator of Middlesex, Vermont. John Castle is the superintendent of the North Country Supervisory Union. Articles about Act 46 School Consolidation is Anti-Democratic: Eric Davis, December 17, 2015, VTDigger If Vermont Were A School: Commentary by John Castle, April, 2015, VTDigger Deliberate Speed on Education Governance by Susan Clark, April, 2015, VTDigger Design for a 21st Century School Governance System, by Margaret MacLean, May, 2014, VTDigger Vermonters for Schools and Community advocate for local control of education, VTDigger, January 2015