The bill H. 454, “An act relating to transforming Vermont’s education governance, quality, and finance systems,” which recently passed the House, has this vision of transformation: Shut South Royalton Elementary school, shut Bethel Elementary, shut First Branch in Tunbridge and First Branch in Chelsea, too, shut Stockbridge Elementary, shut Rochester Elementary, shut Sharon Elementary, shut Newton School in Strafford, and for good measure, shut White River Valley Middle School in Bethel and White River Valley High School in South Royalton. The White River Valley Supervisory Union? Shutter that too. The bill aims for an ideal: All school districts would have no fewer than 4,000 students and all schools would have no fewer than 400 students.
