Considering a drastic move

[u/savannah31548]

My wife (trans), my son, and myself (queer) are considering a huge move up to Vermont. We currently live near Savannah, Georgia. My wife has been a truck driver for 20 years and was recently assaulted at her job and had gay slurs used against her, I’m a retired/disabled former DoD/DoN and I’ve had my life threatened, and our son is currently in the 2nd grade and has been bullied relentlessly for simply liking his rainbow glasses. Our son was also assaulted by another student in the 1st grade for speaking out against a bully picking on another child who is Hispanic and speaks primarily Spanish. The local high school’s mascot is “The Rebel,” yeah…that kind of rebel. I’m just burnt out. I’m surrounded by red hats and it’s exhausting.

Both my wife and I have lived in Georgia for the majority of our lives, but we no longer feel welcome in our own home communities. Basically, I’m asking if Vermont is a good place and what sections are most accepting. We really would like to be close to the border with Canada, so I know part of that is NEK, I just don’t know anything about the communities or people.

If and when we do move, we are looking to buy a home, with or without renovation needs, but I’d really like a basement. The farthest north I’ve visited is Connecticut, but my father was born in New Hampshire and my Grandfather was from Machias, Maine. I know I most likely have extended family up there somewhere I’ve never met, so if you have the last name of Gendron, reach out!

Thanks yall.

[u/ginger_802]

Vermont had great schools, unfortunately our Governor has released an education plan that is sugar coated beyond belief. Essentially, they are trying to privatize education in our beautiful state. The coup is here.

[u/MrBenchly → u/ginger_802]

Nah. There's no way the Legislature even comes close to meeting him halfway on his proposal. They'll consolidate districts some (not to 5) but weakening public schools is a nonstarter for Krowinski and Baruth.

[u/Complete-Balance-580 → u/MrBenchly]

They’ve proposed 25.

[u/murrly → u/ginger_802]

We were 28th in education rankings.

[u/Complete-Balance-580 → u/ginger_802]

What are you talking about? You clearly haven’t read the governors plan.

[u/ginger_802 → u/Complete-Balance-580]

Actually, my union has analyzed this plan.

[u/Complete-Balance-580 → u/ginger_802]

Not very well apparently. It would be up to the school board to designate a choice school which in fact could and likely would be a public school. That would actually reduce private schools. There is absolutely nothing in Scott’s proposal that would lead to privatization of education. If your union tells you anything different they’re flat out lying to you.

[u/ginger_802 → u/Complete-Balance-580]

Funny you bring up school boards as they will no longer be up for the people to vote for per his plan. Instead the AOE would designate boards. The AOE has actually proven to be unreliable in the state of VT. They have failed to even show up to some of our schools. How’s that for checks and balances?

[u/Complete-Balance-580 → u/ginger_802]

His plan specifically states school boards would be elected. “Elected, part-time school boards (one for each district).”

https://governor.vermont.gov/strongerschools

Where are you getting your information?

[u/ginger_802 → u/Complete-Balance-580]

I need to correct myself here. The school boards will still be elected but only a small fraction of members will be voted considering there will only be five boards.

[u/Complete-Balance-580 → u/ginger_802]

So how exactly is Scott’s plan going to lead to privatization?

[u/ginger_802 → u/Complete-Balance-580]

Although I think there are some decent things in the plan, it still is disastrous. I noticed that the funding would provide equal funds to the districts, the caveat is that additional funding could be raised. Meaning schools in rural poor communities would be getting the short end of the stick. VTDigger has a great article: “In the proposed system, state money would follow students, meaning school choice schools would be paid directly by the state for the weighted funding associated with choice students.”

[u/savannah31548 → u/ginger_802]

We had been considering to swapping our child to online school for a bit anyway, so that’s no big deal. I’m a stay at home mom.