SOUTH NEWFANE — As a Vermont citizen, I realize that we have been really lucky during the pandemic. I am grateful that Gov. Scott used science and the guidance available to keep Vermonters safe.
However, in the bigger picture, I have been alarmed at our governor's unwillingness to fund our public schools.
Gov. Scott says that we need to attract people and families to Vermont, and yet the public education that families need and want will not be supported if he has his way.
Who wants to bring their child here to ride a bus for 45 minutes or an hour to reach their designated school?
Gov. Scott has disregarded our town's votes to fund our schools to the degree that we think is needed. He says there is no money. There never will be as long as we cling to our current failed methods to fund public education. Just what is his “thinking outside the box” to find ways to strengthen our schools so that families will want to come to Vermont?
Further, he continues to ignore the reality on the ground. Teachers can no longer be just teachers; they have to be social workers without adequate support.
The governor did not do anything special to get us through COVID-19; he followed the science. I do think that he waited too long to require masks, leaving many businesses to deal with members of the public who have refused to wear them, leaving them and their employees vulnerable to violence as well as the virus.
David Zuckerman will continue to follow that science and continue with those in this administration such as Dr. Mark A. Levine, commissioner of health, to assure Vermont's success in dealing with COVID-19. But more importantly, he will work to make our public education stronger and more equitable.
So if you would like to reward Gov. Scott for his handling of the virus, please send him a letter of appreciation or a gift. Don't give him two more years as governor.