By James Dwinell, Vermont Business Magazine Rich Tarrant, one of Vermont s wealthiest, is no longer a Vermont resident; he now resides in Florida. Tarrant is best known for the amazing success of IDX, a health care information systems company which he sold in 2006 and now called GE Healthcare and still located in South Burlington.
In 2006 Tarrant ran for the open US Senate seat vacated by Jim Jeffords. Though Tarrant won the Republican primary, he lost to Bernie Sanders in the general election. There were rumors of a possible interest in one day running for governor of Vermont, those days are now gone.
After confirming his change of residency, Tarrant said, I don t want your story to suggest that I made the change because of dissatisfaction with Vermont. It was very complicated decision, but simply put, I am heavily invested in Florida real estate and as such it became clear to me that becoming a Florida resident made many things in the real estate field much easier and more beneficial. And I was spending more and more time in Florida. But all four of my start-ups are here in Vermont. There is no escaping the tax man, either here or in Florida.
Tarrant is involved in a variety of business ventures here in Vermont, in the medical and education fields. The Tarrant Institute, centered at UVM, is an example of Tarrant s creative energy.
We are providing an online learning system, called I-Leap, which is in schools in Milton, Burlington, and Manchester, he said. The system engages kids and allows them to learn at their own interest level and ability. One parent told me that his child says that not only does he enjoy the system and learns well, but that much of the disciplinary distractions have been eliminated. A grandparent of Milton I-Leaper had tears in her eyes talking about the difference it made for her grandson!
The program is now in its fourth year (STORY, CLICK HERE). In an article posted on the UVM Communications website written by Jeffrey Wakefield, the Institute s director Penny Bishop has surveyed the schools where I-Leap is at work.
Deborah Tarrant of the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation shows the difference between the technologies students use inside and outside of school at a December 21, 2009, press conference. (Photo: Raj Chawla)
Students in I-Leap say that learning is more interesting, meaningful, and relevant to their lives compared with their earlier school experiences, an evaluation shared by many parents. There's a point to what we're learning, one Milton student said. My daughter's grades have improved since being involved in this program, said an Edmunds parent. She has always had a problem with focusing, but now with the laptop, I have seen her sit, focused, completing her work. I really see the advantages of bringing our teaching methods current with technology.
Edmunds social studies teacher Brent Truchon reported a marked change in classroom participation. For the first time in the history of my teaching career, every student's hand was raised, in a recent class, he said.
Governor Douglas upon hearing the news of Tarrant s change of residency, said, Rich is a Vermont entrepreneur and community leader who has contributed and continues to contribute so much Vermont. His decision to change his residency is an example of how tax laws can make a difference in where people decide to live. We need legislators who understand that.
Not forgetting Tarrant s roots, Penny Bishop said, The Tarrant Institute focuses only on Vermont. The Tarrants have been our sole source of funding until we recently received a $200,000 grant from the stimulus funds. Middle school is our focus. Kids who are failing in math or English, and who have a less then 80 percent attendance record, or receive poor behavior comments on their report cards have only a 20 percent chance of graduating high school. Success is when we see these kids engaged in a relevant curriculum with meaningful technology and succeeding while being directed by teachers who we have trained.
Vermont Business Magazine. 6.17.2010
Tarrant moves residence to Florida, businesses stay in Vermont
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