June 19, 2026

Dear CCSU Families and Community Members,

With the conclusion of the 2026 legislative session, I am writing to provide clarity on the passage of H.955, the Education Transformation Act, and its anticipated impact on our school community. This legislation represents a significant shift in how Vermont schools coordinate services and, potentially, in how we manage local governance.

Our goal remains to provide a stable, high-quality learning environment for all students while navigating these state-mandated changes. Below is an overview of the key pillars of this new law and what they mean for you and your students.

Regional Collaboration (CESAs)

The law establishes Cooperative Educational Service Areas (CESAs). These are designed to help school districts share services such as special education coordination, transportation, and administrative functions to increase efficiency.

• Potential Impact: Families may see more streamlined regional services over time.

• Next Steps: Supervisory unions must appoint representatives to their respective CESA boards within 30 days of the bill's signing into law. Our SU Board has already selected Assistant Superintendent, Mike Moriarty, for this role.

Governance Exploration and Potential Mergers

H.955 requires districts to participate in Merger Study Committees to explore governance restructuring. All of CCSU is currently in the same Merger Study Committee- group 10. This process is designed to determine if consolidating school districts within that merger area could improve educational opportunities or reduce costs. Districts may choose to join a different merger study committee.

• The Vote: Unlike previous iterations of the law, the final decision on whether to merge districts remains with the local voters. Any proposed governance changes must be approved first by the school boards involved and then by the communities at the ballot box at Town Meeting Day.

• Study Committee Work: Each local school board will vote on and send a representative to serve on the Merger Study Committee assigned to their district. These committees will analyze data, conduct regional planning, and develop formal reports for the State Board of Education.

Future School Funding Adjustments

The legislation also prepares the state for a move toward a Foundation Formula for school funding, currently targeted for implementation in Fiscal Year 2030 (July 1, 2029), provided certain legislative contingencies are met. This formula is intended to provide a base level of funding for every student, regardless of where they live. If fully implemented, it will also eliminate local voting on school budgets, as all funding will be determined by the school district's student population and students’ needs. Districts will make their budgeting decisions based on the state funds allotted to them to run their districts. During this potential shift to the foundation formula each year, schools will have to work under a progressively more stringent spending threshold. This will reduce what each district may spend without a penalty. The impact of the thresholds will be like reducing a household's total food budget while food costs continue to rise- it will be challenging. 

Key Timelines for Our CCSU Community

The following timeline highlights critical dates for the study and implementation process:

Our Commitment

We recognize that talk of "transformation" and "mergers" can create uncertainty. We are committed to transparency and will keep you informed at every stage of the study committee process. Your voice as a community member is essential, and we encourage you to participate in upcoming meetings and discussions.

Sincerely,

Matt Foster
Superintendent of Schools
Caledonia Central Supervisory Union