Vermont Business Magazine - Marie Shutts, Operations Director at the Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed to the Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union's ACT 46 study committee. According to Matt Harrington, Executive Director of the Chamber, Shutts will sit on the committee as a representative of the Bennington Chamber and its over 350 business members.
Harrington stated, “The Chamber is interested in “cradle to career” readiness in our area students and future citizens of Bennington as a way to improve and grow our community. We believe by strengthening our local educational system, better preparing and supporting our students as they go through the various stages of school, we can eventually strengthen the workforce. The focus on education and workforce readiness will provide greater growth and achievement in every child, leading to economic revitalization and an improved quality of life for Bennington.”
The goal of the ACT 46 committee is to develop a plan of action for all districts involved to provide substantial equity in the quality and variety of educational opportunities statewide. Other goals of the committee are to lead students to achieve or exceed High Quality Education Standards, maximize operational efficiencies through increased flexibility to manage, share, and transfer resources, with a goal of increasing the district-level ratio of students to full-time equivalent staff, promote transparency and accountability; and that these are delivered at a cost that parents, voters, and taxpayers value.
As a community representative, of which the Chamber would be, the expectations are to commit to work as a team member toward positive progress in creating an approved plan. Additionally, the representative would voice the community needs and interests in a high quality education system for all students.
Shutts added, “Personally, having been employed within the SVSU for 24 years prior to my role at the Chamber, I have a great understanding of how the SVSU has evolved over the years. I’ve seen the success of many services that have been consolidated. We at the Chamber are concerned about the future of our educational system and being able to keep pace with the employment needs of our local businesses. I sit on boards with business owners who have job vacancies but are unable to fill those vacancies because candidates do not possess the appropriate skills needed. I hope that my participation on the Act 46 committee can help advocate and represent a voice for the business community.”
“We feel that by associating ourselves with the Act 46 committee and providing a great resource in Marie, this is one way we can put some skin in the game and help,” states Harrington. “Our educational system is one of the key factors in determining whether a business wants to move here or start here. Additionally, our employers continually comment on how having a strong educational system is important for them in hiring the best of the best. The Chamber wants to help to attract the best of the best too; it starts with a strong foundation in education.”