by Meghan Luther, GMTCC Forestry Instructor
HARDWICK – Some know, some do not.
Over this past school year the forestry and land management program was faced with low (zero new) student enrollment. This means that the forestry program was not running this year.
Since then there have been numerous RAB (regional advisory board) budget meetings for this upcoming school budget. Obviously, forestry and its continuation was a topic. The forestry building, which is located in Hardwick, is expensive: this is no surprise, as it is a satellite campus with heavy equipment.
Other low enrolled programs like the sustainable agriculture and food systems program, also a satellite campus on the Robtoy farm in Jeffersonville, was targeted.
In the last RAB meeting in early December it was recommended to combine the two programs at the Hardwick campus with some aspects from each. From an instructional point of view, each of these individual campuses and their curriculum are the envy of other tech centers across the state. The loss or combination of Forestry and Ag would result in both programs losing what students have come to love, and what employers and our community admire.
If you know or have been to either the Robtoy farm or the forestry campuses you will know that moving the farm to Hardwick is not possible. You cannot move numerous acres of fertile agricultural and grazing pastures to the plot of forest trails and sugarwoods that exists in Hardwick.
Both programs offer numerous IRC (industry recognized credentials) and college credits along with rigorous coursework. For all of these reasons, both programs have been recognized and awarded at both the state and national levels.
At a school board meeting, on Monday, Jan. 9, Director Erik Remmers, under the advisement of the RAB, made the recommendation to combine the two programs and close the Robtoy campus; budgetary concerns are the only driving factor in this decision. In a show of support, community members voiced their concerns.
Both students and faculty, past and present, showed up. In all, the consensus is that these programs offer distinct and important opportunities for our students that have direct impacts on our community.
After some discussion and clarifying questions from the school board, they decided that they needed more time to research this issue and tabled the vote for Tuesday, Jan. 16. We were asked to try and find other solutions for funding these programs. We know that there are policy changes in the works in the legislature in terms of funding structures, and we are looking at possible increases in class sizes in our sending schools that could have an increase in enrollment for the tech center.
We both also have a disadvantage of being located off campus and in opposite ends of the district. Also the forestry building is within OSSU district geographically.
Attracting students to programs that are 30 minutes away from the main campus in Hyde Park has challenges, especially in our tour recruiting efforts where students do not get to see our actual classroom/lab spaces.
We are looking for solutions to get us through these budget increases until these changes happen. If there is any community support in the private sector, grants or any other ideas to help with this funding gap that we can research, please bring this information to us asap.
If you feel strongly about supporting our programs please reach out to the Lamoille North Supervisory District School Board members. https://www.lnsd.org/school/board-members.
