** High Priority **

To all interested parties:

The attached is a letter from John Nelson, Executive Director of Vermont School Boards Association, about a public hearing on proposed legislation to cap increases in school budgets to 4% or less.

The reason this has significant impact on technology is that the current increases in health care, fuel costs, and special education costs, when added to district personnel (contractual) increases, will be well above the 4% limit.

The choices for the school boards will be to try to get a 60% vote to approve the expenditure, or to cut "non-critical" costs.  We have seen examples of this cost cutting in local budgets, and technology expenditures are typically high on the list.  

There are also no legislative initiatives to remove Vermont from the short list of states that provide zero funding for local technology in schools.  Despite the Governor's call for a new e-State, this legislation has the potential to put our schools firmly back in the 20th century.

If you know a parent or community member who is concerned about this, let them know.  The hearing is in Montpelier this Thursday at 3:30.

Thanks,

Paul







L. Paul Irish
Director of Information Technology
Burlington School District
150 Colchester Ave.
Burlington, VT, 05401
Voice: 802-864-8465
Fax: 802-864-8501
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]