News Detail

School Choice


Dear BBA Community:

School choice and your right to send your children to BBA is under severe threat. The State Board of Education has proposed a set of rules that, if adopted, would effectively eliminate school choice in all of our towns. Because Burr and Burton is an Independent school, this means that most families would no longer be able to send their children to Burr and Burton. These rules would destroy smaller independent schools, and would seek to force BBA to become, for all intents and purposes, a public school. This is something we will not allow to happen.

The proposed rules would prohibit sending towns from sending students to BBA unless we effectively became a public school. We would be required to have certified teachers, when many of our finest teachers are not certified. We would be required to have certified administrators, when most of our administrators are not. Under these rules, our independent board of trustees, which helps to raise millions of dollars each year ($30 million in the past 10 years) would be disbanded, and with it, our ability to raise funds that directly support education. Representative Oliver Olsen, who is fighting these rules tooth and nail, has calculated that real estate values in this region would plummet by as much as $200 million.

I am attaching two pertinent communications:
  • A letter to education secretary Rebecca Holcombe from the Council of Independent schools, of which I am co-chair. Click here to view.
  • A letter from Representative Olsen to the state board of education. Click here to view.
What can you do? Make your voice heard!
Write a letter to Stephan Morse, Chair of the State Board of Education, and Rebecca Holcombe, the Secretary of Education and ask them to reject these rules. Tell them why school choice is important to you. Tell them how strongly you feel about Burr and Burton. Their contact information is as follows:
Write your State Senators and Representatives. Urge them to fight these rules.
The State Board of Education is made up of unelected political appointees. Their proposed action goes around the legislative process and may very well be deemed unconstitutional. We need to put the maximum pressure on the board and all parties involved so they know that BBA and other independent schools are a source of strength for our community.

This is a test of our strength. We must rise to the test.

Sincerely,
Mark H. Tashjian




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Burr and Burton Academy does not discriminate against any person or group on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), ancestry, national origin, place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, political affiliation or marital status in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the school's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title IX, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or other federal or state nondiscrimination laws or regulations is directed to The Headmaster's Office, Burr and Burton Academy, Manchester, VT 05254. Burr and Burton complies with all applicable state and federal nondiscrimination statutes, including the Vermont Public Accommodations Act (9 V.S.A. Chapter 139), the Vermont Fair Employment Practices Act (21 V.S.A. Chapter 5, Subchapter 6) and Vermont State Board of Education rules 2226.6 and 2229.1.