Hello, I’m John Reed of Saxtons River and the principal of Vernon Elementary
School.
I feel that the biggest
concern facing Vermont is the exit of children and youth from all but the Burlington area. Over the past decade, my southern Vermont educational colleagues and I have been witness to a
slow but steady enrollment exodus.
As our school populations decline and high school graduates exit our state for
greener pastures, we are faced with many difficult decisions–namely who will
take care of our aging population and seek employment in our beautiful
state? Methinks we are living on a double-edged sword.
While legislation such as ACT 250 keeps development in check (and atrocious
billboards at bay), we see a lack of employment opportunities for young people
who see naught but a dead end road ahead for all but the brightest and most
innovative. If we are to remain attractive to the youth of today, we need
to rethink our place in our country and the world.
Vermont already has the lowest birth rate in the
country. In 2003, my school enrolled 232 students. Next fall we expect to
enroll 173. That’s a drop of 59 students in roughly 5 years. And that’s a
typical scenario for this part of the state. Fewer children equates to fewer
dollars for our schools, leaving local residents to pick up the tab for school
budgets.
Our educational standards,
already high, need to focus on the movement of our graduates into a workplace
that is competitive, vital, and local. Traveling around the US and the globe, I see possibilities in agriculture,
technology, and small business that have the potential to thrive in Vermont. However, until we make serious efforts to keep
our youth engaged close to home, we will continue to see Vermont become a playground for the elderly.