[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6076643,"mediaKeyId","2968945-7e9309e91bb8bbdd45d309a3879959fc","parentId",2968945,"title","Representative Donna Hughes proposes aligning aspirational intent dates in H.454; committee debates timing, public input and cost","audioSeconds",964,"startMs",463765,"endMs",1428005,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2968945-7e9309e91bb8bbdd45d309a3879959fc&start=463&end=1428","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2968945-7e9309e91bb8bbdd45d309a3879959fc/thumbnail_463765.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6076643/Vermont/Representative-Donna-Hughes-proposes-aligning-aspirational-intent-dates-in-H454-committee-debates-timing-public-input-and-cost","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076643-b37917055f74d1dd19a3e7b117cf79bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770680536&Signature=A~47JqfmXOPpDWr3luGySX7pWosDsL8AorO7RU-Vtzv5dcI5JAnU2aDfHG1NvE-4bHfmSiQcdSDzZ7ojfEAZ0s7z0xONhfRhvwLN-XwvZzAdA8hb7ewIamR9Nnx~pNXWqIoITCyX-Ba0bY6l0M-27P0-NiQxCaXMJqIhGCoLoAUXwNKKEijxDOl~7PKTI7zI43QSGro4eN5SKleGRRR3n4btLZ4ErGC4y4C3m6lfk3mTUeiIl9Hcl~5sPaW9dz4xhqYi7zrIUZea9QFZgvuk2gynuFARN9cT3gJWKtbCBIpM~SLADFzc~9rBFKjqkJAhTx4gYCDiuLYPs59ys2gsbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-12T11:51:58.75Z","article","Representative Donna Hughes presented a late amendment to H.454 focused on aligning the bill's aspirational intent dates with the anticipated work to create new school district boundaries and voting wards. \"This proposal is simply saying our aspirational intent dates should align with that hope,\" Hughes said, explaining the amendment would move some dates forward if the related work were completed sooner than previously scheduled.

Hughes described the intent language as nonbinding: \"It's it's not binding. It's aspiration,\" she told the committee. She said the amendment would change the bill's intent to indicate the General Assembly hopes to enact new, larger district boundaries effective July 1, 2026 (instead of 2027), enable initial school board member elections as early as March 2027 (instead of 2028) and allow full district responsibility to begin July 1, 2028 (instead of 2029) if the preparatory work is completed. Hughes also said she removed phrasing that merely directed the start of the ward-creation process, because the intent was to show the legislature's hope that wards would be created in 2026.

Committee members expressed multiple concerns. One member said the work to draw ward lines cannot be finalized until district boundaries are settled and noted the process requires extensive public comment and legal steps similar to legislative apportionment. That speaker stated, \"we are creating the largest political subdivisions ever created in the state potentially\" and warned that the public process and funding for mapping and software purchases had not been addressed in the amendment. Others said the amendment was intended to match dates in a companion Houghton amendment and would be withdrawn if that amendment failed.

Hughes acknowledged the amendment did not change any operative effective dates, saying she \"consciously did not change any of the effective dates.\" She framed the amendment as a technical alignment of aspirational intent language rather than an immediate operational change. The committee discussed sequencing for floor amendments and the possibility that mapping costs and staff time would require appropriations in subsequent budget bills. The transcript records the committee taking a straw vote on the amendment but does not record a formal committee adoption or a detailed roll-call tally in the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education - 2025-04-11 - 10:50 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Donna Hughes offered an amendment to H.454 to move aspirational intent dates earlier for district boundary and ward work if that preparatory work can be completed sooner than currently scheduled.","taxTitle","Education, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",30651,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6076649,"House Education members debate amendment to H.454 on foundation formula, minimum class size and district structure",419,16895,436675,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2968945-7e9309e91bb8bbdd45d309a3879959fc&start=16&end=436","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2968945-7e9309e91bb8bbdd45d309a3879959fc/thumbnail_16895.jpg","/articles/6076649/Vermont/House-Education-members-debate-amendment-to-H454-on-foundation-formula-minimum-class-size-and-district-structure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6076649-8524e720758e32fffc0f41eef0b933cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770680537&Signature=IUfQyJirUyETWMyD~UnbQcgLssfqf5E9sRdgJTsKXS12SAdWXyS9jx6mbJXUd-tLVgeFPEUA3OgEYlSu~6byv-1Eb1R4RHqFzFAejupc7PbqRrZQ~TCckCPp1nkqUV4iK8tY-9850K5GLEvTIKmCqtRVLJ26aUV5LUigHw4g~Q~UH-kyYpQuOyQvH7Adf5AahR9LqG7tpSl5WEPEiX8L4~a5cS8G~ZEtvAzrDYbf849Ehs-II3-iLWuI99Y6frJINPIkVkZem5Mc-FRxGOlNgp3NT8kfiFkYffWfKCuE12skgy8qtL-RdTO-4wBXeJu21AGYxoiCw22Fxfr~uqyL8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Gina Galfetti told the House Education Committee on April 11 that she was offering an amendment to H.454 intended to bring the bill \"back to center.\" \"This is gonna be a very, very short presentation because you guys have seen this bill already,\" Galfetti said, arguing the committee's prior changes \"strayed too far from what the intent of the original bill was.\"

Galfe tti said her amendment narrows changes to the foundation formula and keeps the bill more closely aligned with the governor's proposal. \"I'm all in on the governor's proposal exception,\" she said, while noting she wanted further conversation about the district timeline. Galfetti also said the amendment restores a minimum class size to 25 and favors the lower foundation-formula number in the governor's construct.

Committee members pressed on likely effects. One member asked whether \"every classroom in [a specific district] could handle 25\"; Galfetti replied the question had been raised with teachers in her district and responses were \"mixed,\" adding that some teachers saw the governor's proposal as likely to \"put more money in their pockets.\" Another committee member, identified in discussion as Kate, warned that, as she read budget examples from the Agency of Education (AOE), some staff such as nurses, librarians and counselors could be paid less under the proposed budget structure unless weighted funding components change; other speakers replied that weighted funding would be layered on the foundation formula, making precise salary impacts uncertain.

The committee also confirmed that CTE language in the bill would remain unchanged by Galfetti's amendment. The committee took a straw vote on the amendment; members were asked to \"raise your hands\" to indicate support and opposition, but the transcript does not record a formal committee adoption or a definitive roll-call tally for a final committee motion.

Discussion items recorded in the transcript were deliberative; the committee did not record a floor-level passage of Galfetti's amendment during the hearing. The bill H.454 and the governor's proposal will proceed according to legislative process and further consideration on the floor and in the Senate.","Representative Gina Galfetti presented an amendment to H.454 that would tighten the bill toward the governor's proposal on the foundation formula, restore a 25 minimum class size and leave district-creation decisions to the Senate; the committee held a straw vote but did not record a final floor adoption in committee.","actionData","errors"]

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Representative Donna Hughes proposes aligning aspirational intent dates in H.454; committee debates timing, public input and cost

House Education members debate amendment to H.454 on foundation formula, minimum class size and district structure