The Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development convened on March 20, 2025, to discuss critical issues surrounding career and technical education (CTE) and governance. The meeting featured testimony from Sue Zaglowski, the executive director of the Vermont School Boards Association (VSBA), who emphasized the importance of public education as a fundamental right and a cornerstone for strong communities and economic development in Vermont.

Zaglowski outlined the VSBA's commitment to supporting school boards, which consist of over 850 elected members across the state. She highlighted the association's legislative priorities, which focus on education funding, cost drivers, and core responsibilities of school boards. Key priorities include ensuring sufficient funding for equitable education, maintaining predictability in school budgets, and strengthening accountability for public spending.

The discussion also touched on the challenges of education funding in Vermont, with Zaglowski stressing the need for collaboration with the legislature to address these issues. She presented six priorities for education funding, including a focus on students and providing data to understand the long-term impacts of funding changes.

Zaglowski raised concerns regarding the draft CTE bill currently under consideration. She noted the absence of a findings section in the bill, which leaves its purpose unclear. Additionally, she expressed apprehension about transferring rulemaking authority to the Agency of Education, citing the agency's current capacity challenges. She advocated for restructuring and adequately resourcing the State Board of Education to fulfill its responsibilities effectively.

The meeting underscored the VSBA's commitment to improving educational governance and ensuring that any legislative changes align with the needs of Vermont's school districts. The committee is expected to consider these insights as it moves forward with discussions on the CTE bill and related educational policies.