President Chris opened the meeting at the meeting site: Holiday Inn Express of Brattleboro, VT. Chris welcomed all to the April 2, 2026 meeting of the Brattleboro Rotary Club,www.brattlebororotaryclub.org
Invocation:
Cheri Ann Brodhurst gave the invocation which encouraged members to be humble in service to others.
President Chris the club with the Pledge of Allegiance
Bill led the club with the Rotary motto and Four Way Test.
Rotary Motto: Service Above Self
Four Way Test -
Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
22 Members, 8 Student Rotarians and 0 guest attended the meeting.
Guests:
JOKE OF THE WEEK - For our joke or song of the week:
Rick led a song in honor of the baseball season - Take Me Out to the Ballpark
EDITOR NOTE: 2025-26 weekly assignments are posted on the club website.
Rotarians for Rotarians:
Dart Everett: Rotary members in need; Noted Chris Brown would love to hear from members, he is 96 and doing well. He can be reached by email at ChrisandMilieva@comcast.net, mail; 150 Rivermead Road Apt 211, Peterborough, NH 03458, Phone; 603-924-0225
New Members:
ROTARY MINUTE
John Meyer shared the rotary minute noting how the club has adapted to the changing world.
Note for future presenters; The Rotary Minute could also have the speaker talk about their personal involvement in Rotary or personal background.
Years of Service in our Club
On Behalf of our Club and all Rotarians, thank you for your Service Above Self
Student Rotarian updates:
BUHS Students; Levi Healey reported on the National Honors Society scholarship fund raiser raffle, $2 tickets, see Levi to support the program. Wahid Noori reported that spring sports are underway including baseball, track, softball, lacrosse, tennis. Zafrani Sakhi reported on participation in Ramadan which included fasting and how she is exploring a career in Cardiology through the Windham Regional Career Center.
Leland Gray Students; Antero Brown-McCoard reported the theatre program won regionals for “She Kills Monsters”, he noted it will be playing in the Latchis Theatre soon. He also noted spring sports starting Monday. Dakota Wood, senior, reported on students returning from trips to Belize which included activities in the national park, snorkeling, hiking and eating termites. Students also returned from China, Florida Keys, New Orleans, Washington DC, and local trips. Returning students will showcase what was learned, including international cooking on April 17.
Hinsdale Student; Caleb Barry reported that students will be attending the FBLA National conference in Texas and spring sports have begun. There will be an upcoming kindness day at the school.
Gerry Theberge, Regina Stefanelli, Stephen Stearns. Stephen commented on how grateful he is for his association with rotary members and how many are ready to help.
Announcements
Stan announced the next date for Groundworks is April 8th and it will be an Easter theme. Stan is looking for people to sign up.
Happy Dollars and Brags and Fines
Ted bragged $20 for Stephen Stearns and Chris Brown and other members as a tribute to their fellowship and contributions to enriching the rotary member experience. Ted expressed his gratitude for being a Rotarian in the Brattleboro Club. Ted bragged an additional $20 for his son Tucker and their new baby born last week, family is doing well.
George Karabakakis bragged for his son and their new baby girl in Boston, he also bragged for the art show occurring at 118 Elliot Street, tomorrow which includes work from HCRS staff and clients.
Stephen Sterns bragged for his appreciation and gratefulness for the Brattleboro Rotary members and their fellowship and for still being strong at the age of 82.
ED NOTE: Weekly assignments for the invocation or motivational thought can be found on the club website.>
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Jim announced the upcoming programs as follows:
Roadshow 4/9 - We are going to the Retreat Education Center - main building at the retreat, not the farm
4/30 Going to Saffron Restaurant in the Colonial Inn on Putney Road
5/7 - Going to the Sheriffs office on Old Ferry Road
REMINDERS
Please bring your bottles and cans to the Putney Road redemption center to benefit APPN. Pure Water for the World is no longer operating in the USA; it continues in Honduras as APPN.
Maria Inestroza, the PWW country director for Honduras is continuing the work in that country under the name APPM, acronym for Agua Pura para El Mundo, or Pure Water for the World in Spanish Pure Water for the World. Please remember to inform the staff that the bottles and cans should be credited to the club.
For the 2025–2026 school year, the system still largely relies on local control within the framework established by Act 60 (1996) and updated by Act 127.
One Statewide Pot: Education-related taxes—property taxes, sales taxes, meals and rooms taxes, and lottery proceeds—go into a single State Education Fund.
Local Budget Votes: Each year on Town Meeting Day, local voters approve or reject their school district’s proposed budget. Once approved, the state is obligated to pay the district that full amount.
Pupil Weighting (Act 127): The state doesn't just count the number of students; it "weights" them based on the cost of their education. For example, students from low-income families, English language learners, or those in small rural schools are counted as more than "one" student to provide their districts with more tax capacity.
Budgets approved by voters divided by student enrollment derives the homestead property tax rate
Key Funding Laws
Law
Primary Focus
Status
Act 60/68
Equitable funding across towns (statewide Ed Fund)
1996 Supreme Court
Act 127
Modernized pupil weights for rural and needy students
Fully implemented in FY2025
Act 73
Transition to Foundation Formula and larger districts
Phasing in through July 2028
How much does Vermont spend annually on public schools?
Vermont spends approximately $2.5 billion annually on its public K-12 education system. This funding primarily flows through the state's Education Fund, which is projected to reach about $2.56 billion for fiscal year 2027, supports LESS THAN 100,000 students.
Per-Pupil Spending
Vermont consistently ranks among the highest-spending states in the country per student.
Average Cost: Most districts spend an average of $22,000 per student.
National Comparison: This is significantly higher than the U.S. average, which was roughly $15,600 in recent years.
District Variance: Spending varies widely by district. For the 2024–2025 school year, per-pupil funding ranged from approximately $10,700 to over $24,100.
Key Drivers of Spending
Several factors contribute to Vermont's high education costs:
Staffing Levels: Vermont has the lowest student-to-teacher ratio in the nation at roughly 10.5 to 1, compared to a national average of 15.4 to 1.
Health Care & Inflation: Rising employee healthcare costs (often cited at 15% increases) and general inflation are significant upward pressures on local budgets.
Declining Enrollment: While total spending has increased, the number of students in Vermont schools has decreased by more than 20% since the late 1990s.
Recent Trends
Statewide education spending is projected to increase by about 4.2% this year. However, because consumption tax revenues (like sales and meals taxes) have not grown as quickly, local property taxes are often forced to cover a larger share of these increases. This has led to increased tension at the local level; in 2026, 19 school budgets were initially rejected by voters on Town Meeting Day.
What are the funding sources for public schools in Vermont?
Public schools in Vermont are primarily funded through a single, statewide Education Fund. This fund centralizes various tax revenues and distributes them to school districts based on the budgets approved by local voters.
Primary Revenue Sources
The Education Fund relies on a mix of property taxes and several non-property state taxes.
Education Property Taxes (approx. 65%): This is the largest source of funding and is divided into two categories:
Homestead Property Tax: Paid by primary residents. The rate is unique to each town and varies based on the per-pupil spending approved by local voters. Funds approximately 26% of Education Spending in VT
Non-Homestead Property Tax: A uniform statewide rate applied to business properties, rental units, second homes, and camps. Funds Approx. 40% Education Spending
Why is the Homestead Portion Smaller?
The disparity is primarily due to two factors:
The "Grand List" Value: The total value of non-homestead property in Vermont (businesses, vacation homes, etc.) is higher than the total value of primary residences.
Property Tax Credits: About two-thirds of Vermont homeowners receive a property tax credit based on their household income. These credits effectively reduce the total amount of homestead tax collected by over $150 million annually (roughly a 20% reduction in homestead collections).
Consumption Taxes (approx. 25%): Several state taxes sent to the Ed Fund:
Sales and Use Tax: 100% of these revenues go to education.
Purchase and Use Tax: One-third of the revenue from vehicle purchases.
Meals and Rooms Tax: One-quarter of the revenue from restaurants and hotels.
Other State Sources:
State Lottery: 100% of net profits from the Vermont Lottery
Medicaid Reimbursements: Funds received for health-related services provided in schools.
Federal Funding
Federal funds make up a smaller portion of the total budget, typically around 5%. These funds are generally restricted to specific purposes rather than general operating costs:
Title I: Schools with concentrations of students from low-income families.
IDEA: Provides funding for special education services.
Child Nutrition: Funds for school lunch and breakfast programs.
Local Offsetting Revenues
Before reaching out to the state for the remainder of their budget, districts use small amounts of locally generated revenue, such as tuition from out-of-district students, investment earnings, etc.
The Future: Act 73 Transformation (Effective 2028)
Act 73 of 2025 represents a fundamental shift intended to address rising costs and student inequities. Key changes scheduled to begin in the 2028–2029 school year include:
The Foundation Formula: Instead of districts setting a budget and the state figuring out the tax rate, the state will set a "base" amount of funding per student (initially set at $15,033).
Uniform Statewide Tax Rate: Most local voters will no longer vote on the base school budget; the Legislature will set a uniform statewide property tax rate to fund this foundation amount.
Consolidation: The law moves Vermont toward fewer, larger school districts (aiming for sizes of 4,000–8,000 students) to improve efficiency and program access.
Shared Links to the Windham Southeast School District Annual Report which included Budget information, supporting statistics, student outcomes and plans for the future.
