Potential Panelist Questions – Generated by CSCC Stakeholders
*Transcriber's disclaimer: A few sticky notes fell off in transport! They have been recorded under “Questions for any/all panelists.” Please contact Annie (aevolmer@yahoo.com) if any of these are YOUR questions, and you would like them moved!
Walden Principal Martha Dubuque
● What are the pros and cons of tuitioning vs. joining a union?
● What has the social impact been of tuitioning out?
● What have been the pros and cons of busing tuition students?
● Is the community concerned about lack of input into schools students attend?
● What's it like for high school families to transport students to other schools?
● Would quality of education improve if 8-12 or 9-12 were tuitioned out?
● Have successful outcomes been demonstrated in towns that tuition high school out?
● Would Craftsbury and surrounding communities support a charter school?
● What has worked and not worked with regard to tuitioning high school students?
● If middle and high school are tuitioned out, does the overall quality of education diminish for the elementary children?
Wolcott Principal Merri Greenia
● What are the busing procedures to the receiving school(s)?
● What has the social impact been of tuitioning out?
● What have been the pros and cons of busing tuition students?
● Is the community concerned about lack of input into schools students attend?
● What's it like for high school families to transport students to other schools?
● What would be the busing procedures from Craftsbury Academy to a receiving school? Late buses? Other issues?
● Have successful outcomes been demonstrated in towns that tuition high school out?
● Would Crafsbury and surrounding communities support a charter school?
● What has worked and not worked with regard to tuitioning high school students?
● If middle and high school are tuitioned out, does the overall quality of education diminish for the elementary children?
Lakeview Greensboro Principal Linda Aiken
● What has the social impact been of tuitioning out?
● What have been the pros and cons of busing tuition students?
● Is the community concerned about lack of input into schools students attend?
● How do you deal with transportation for students – all to Hazen?
● Have successful outcomes been demonstrated in towns that tuition high school out?
● Would Crafsbury and surrounding communities support a charter school?
● What has worked and not worked with regard to tuitioning high school students?
Education Expert and Craftsbury AP Instructor Noel Ford
● Would the quality of education improve if we tuition out our students?
● How does tuitioning out upper grades effect elementary education? Is elementary education diminished?
● What models and organizations exist for providing extended learning options to a small school?
● Is there comparative research that measures the impact of tuitioning out?
● Information on “virtual high school?”
● How do “advanced” students from a small school survive in an environment where being smart may not be cool?
● Would Crafsbury and surrounding communities support a charter school?
Former Craftsbury Principal Betty LeRoy
● What is the cost/benefit of joining a union school vs. tuitioning? Cost/benefit of not joining?
● Is there comparative research that measures the impact of tuitioning out?
● What nearby schools would be available [to absorb Craftsbury students]?
● Would place-based, experiential curriculum attract students from other towns? From Craftsbury?
● What are the implications for the physical plant if Craftsbury were to create a charter school?
● Would Crafsbury and surrounding communities support a charter school?
?? Hazen Principal Dr. Elaine Laine
● If we tuition out high school, would quality of education improve?
● Is there space for Crafsbury Academy High School students?
● What is it like for students from a smaller school adjusting to a larger school?
● How can we be sure that students from a small, outlying town are treated equitably with regard to access to special programs and opportunities?
● How many team sports are available in a tuitioning high school scenario, and would Craftsbury students be able to participate?
St. Johnsbury Academy
● If we tuition out high school, would quality of education improve?
● What is it like for students from smaller schools to adjust to St. J.?
● How are private schools effected by state and federal funding and regulations?
● Are there studies that assess parent-student engagement in relation to commuting distance? How far is too far?
● What would a boarding school model look like?
● If more extra-curricular activities are offered under a tuitioned out scenario, do participation rates increase?
● Would access to extra-curricular activities increase if students were tuitioned out?
● How can we be sure that students from a small, outlying town are treated equitably with regard to access to special programs and opportunities?
Woodland School, NH
● How are private schools effected by state and federal funding and regulations?
● What is needed to start a private school?
● Are you attracting students from outside your town? Why or why not?
White Mountain School, NH
● How are private schools effected by state and federal funding and regulations?
● Are you attracting students from outside your town? Why or why not?
● What models and organizations exist to provide techniques and curricula to a charter/private school?
● Would access to extra-curricular activities increase if students were tuitioned out?
Albany School
● What is the social impact of tuitioning out 8-12? 9-12?
● Has not having a high school effected your town?
● How do Albany students adjust to attending a larger high school?
● How did you decide to designate Lake Region Union High School?
● Would Craftsbury and surrounding communities support a charter school?
● What are the comparative costs and benefits of joining a union school vs. tuitioning?
● If we tuition out high school, how will increased diversity impact our students' social and academic lives?
Brownington
● Why did you decide to tuition out?
● What prompted Brownington to bring its junior high back to Brownington?
● What is the social impact on a smaller town of tuitioning out 8-12 or 9-12?
● If we tuition out high school, how will increased diversity impact our students' social and academic lives?
● What would be the economic impact on the town as a result of tuitioning out (employment, local business)?
● What would be the economic impact on the town as a result of conversion to a private, charter, or magnate school (employment, local business)?
Hancock
● Describe the experience of forming and “maintaining” a union.
● What is the community like without a school?
● What has been the social impact on the town of closing the school?
● What was the impact on students of closing the school?
Questions for Additional Potential Panelists -- Generated by CSCC Stakeholders
Troy School
● What is the social impact of tuitioning schools?
● Has not having a high school effected your town?
● How do Albany students adjust to attending a larger high school?
Newport Center School
● What is the social impact of tuitioning schools?
● Has not having a high school effected your town?
● How do Albany students adjust to attending a larger high school?
Lamoille Union Middle and High School
● Is there space for Crafsbury Academy High School students?
● What is it like for students from a smaller school adjusting to a larger school?
Stowe
● Explain your “virtual educational delivery.”
Peoples' Academy
● How can we be sure that students from a small, outlying town are treated equitably with regard to access to special programs and opportunities?
● How many team sports are available in a tuitioning high school scenario, and would Craftsbury students be able to participate?
Questions for Any/All Panelists
● Are there studies that assess parent-student engagement in relation to commuting distance? How far is too far?
● If we tuition out high school, would quality of education improve?
● What are the pros and cons of tuitioning vs. joining a union?
● For towns who tuition out: Is the community concerned about lack of input into schools students attend?
● For towns who tuition out: how do you handle transportation issues?
● What is the cost/benefit of tuitioning out, and the cost/benefit of staying in Craftsbury?
● For all private schools: How are private schools effected by state and federal funding and regulations?
● How would tuitioning with school choice effect the population of our town?
● How would tuitioning with a designated school effect the population of our town?
● What local schools could absorb the population of Craftsbury Academy?
● What is the cost benefit of sending students to another school vs. the cost benefit of staying in Craftsbury?
● What would be the financial impact associated with each of the above approaches (tax rates, school costs, savings from consolidation and staff reduction, reduced supplies, etc.)?
● How will the cost structure change (increase/decrease) if we tuition students in the future?
● What are the implications for state, federal, private and charitable foundation funding for each of the different models and approaches under consideration?
Questions for State Officials
● For the Commissioner of Ed. and Legislators: What would it take to make charter schools happen in VT?
● For the commissioner of Ed.: Is there comparative research that measures the impact of tuitioning out?
Questions for OSSU Officials
● How many students now and in the future would be tuitioning out if 8-12? 9-12?
