The Next Generation Commission, which was handed a monumental task to figure out how to help Vermonters afford college, get trained for the right jobs and stay in Vermont so they can support the rest of us in our senior years, has filed its report.
Thousands of people will undoubtedly think upon their own lives and conclude that the commission didn't consider the fact that their son/daughter/neighbor moved out of Vermont because of rent/job prospects/lack of seafood but would come back if only the state would bring in more jobs/higher mountains/more opera.
They have, however, heard a lot of stories. They've made recommendations about how to offer financial help for higher ed, how to help those not going to college and how to get kids thinking about careers earlier in their lives.
It's available online
here. Do the recommendations get at the stated problem?
The next question is what will happen to the recommendations.
Will the governor and Legislature agree to put the money toward scholarships and workforce development?
Is there a way to solve the problem of one piece of government not working closely enough with another?
Read it and weigh in.
- Terri Hallenbeck
