Shumlin pushes for education changes

Gov. Peter Shumlin brought his powers of persuasion to Springfield on Monday, praising the town’s revitalization efforts and seeking support for his push for more flexibility in education.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20120214/NEWS02/702149893

Gov. Peter Shumlin speaks to the Springfield Rotary Club on Monday.
Photo: Vyto Starinskas / Staff Photo
Published February 14, 2012 in the Rutland Herald
Shumlin pushes for education changes

By SUSAN SMALLHEER
Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Peter Shumlin brought his powers of persuasion to Springfield on Monday, praising the town’s revitalization efforts and seeking support for his push for more flexibility in education.

Shumlin said he wanted the power to appoint the commissioner of education, who is currently appointed by the state Board of Education. He also said that he wanted students to attend any public high school they wanted, as well as universal pre-kindergarten education.

He said he wanted Vermont to be known as “the education state,” and reminded the Springfield Rotary Club members that the key to economic success was a well-educated work force.

Shumlin said that two high schools in Windham County — Leland and Gray Union High School in Townshend and Brattleboro Union High School — were attracting students outside of its district.

But it was only the wealthy that could afford it, with their parents renting houses in the district to change their legal residency to avoid paying tuition costs.

Shumlin said he knew of families who wanted their children to attend the Chinese language and culture program at Townshend, and rented a home in Townshend or Newfane so their kids could do it.

Public school choice would strengthen the schools, said Shumlin. Money should “follow the student,” he said.

“Let’s let everybody in,” said Shumlin, who said that dance students flocked to Brattleboro Union High School because of its special program there.

Shumlin said one key to improving education was to make the education commissioner answer directly to the governor.

He said that recent test scores showed that half of all Vermont students can’t do basic math.

“Folks, that is a problem, that is a big problem,” said Shumlin, who said he wanted to be able to tell the education commissioner that each high school freshman should take algebra and each high school sophomore should take geometry.

Shumlin’s noontime talk at the Hartness House Inn also touched on health-care reform, with Shumlin reiterating his goals of getting health care costs under control through reform.

Shumlin warned that the current $5 billion that Vermonters collectively spend on health care would rise about $1.2 billion by 2015.

The governor praised the work now under way at cleaning up the former Jones & Lamson Machine Tool Co., and the reconstruction of the old Fellows Gear Shaper building, which will house a medical clinic and doctors offices after reconstruction is complete.

“We’re trying to clone Bob Flint,” said Shumlin to laughter, referring to the executive director of the Springfield Regional Development Corp., who has been working on both redevelopment projects.

“I am incredibly proud of the progress downtown,”said Shumlin, who reminded the audience he was the first Vermont governor from southern Vermont in almost 50 years.

His goal, he said, “is to spread the love” so that southern Vermont, and not just thriving Chittenden County in northwest Vermont, has a strong economy.