How to participate

Every committee meeting is open to the public. You do not need to sign up, and you do not need to live in any of the three cities.

Attend a meeting

Each meeting has a place you can go in person and a way to join by video or phone. The details are on each meeting’s page. Each meeting page also has a calendar file you can add to your phone or computer.

• In person. Go to the address on the meeting page.
• By video. Use the link on the meeting page.
• By phone. Call the number on the meeting page and enter the PIN. You can listen and speak by phone without a computer or the internet.

The committee records every meeting. Recordings are linked from each meeting page.

Speak at a meeting

Each meeting has one time set aside for public input. At the October 20, 2026 meeting, these were the rules:

• You may speak in person or online.
• Start by giving your full name and the town where you live.
• You have 2 minutes.
• Speak about items on that meeting’s agenda.
• The committee listens but does not debate with speakers. It may answer briefly when a quick answer is needed.
• Personal attacks, ridicule, and profane language are not allowed.

The rules for each meeting are in its notice, linked from the meeting page.

Send a written comment

If you cannot attend, you may send a written comment to be read aloud during public input. Send it to the facilitator or to your district’s contact on our contact page before the meeting. Include your name and town, and the meeting date.

Ask for in-person, phone, or video access

If you live in Burlington, South Burlington, or Winooski, or you are a reporter, Vermont’s Open Meeting Law lets you ask the committee to offer a physical place to attend, or a way to join by phone or video, for a regular meeting.

• Ask in writing at least 2 business days before the meeting. Use our contact page.
• You do not have to say why.
• Each request covers one meeting.

Source: 1 V.S.A. § 312(j)

Ask for another format or language

If you need a document in another format, such as large print, plain text, or audio, or you need help in another language, ask us on the contact page. The Burlington School District also has multilingual liaisons who help families in many languages.

Ask for a public record

The committee’s records are public. Agendas, minutes, and recordings are on each meeting page. Other files the committee writes are on the Public Records page. To ask for something that is not posted, write to the contacts. Vermont’s Public Records Act gives you the right to look at or get copies of public records.

Source: 1 V.S.A. chapter 5, subchapter 3

What to include

• A comment for a meeting: your name, your town, the meeting date, and your comment. Send it before the meeting.
• A request for phone, video, or in-person access: the meeting date. Send it at least 2 business days before the meeting.
• A request for a record: what you are looking for and how you want to get it.
• Another format or language: the page or file, and what format or language you need.
• A problem with this website: the page and what went wrong.

Follow your own school board

Each school board talks about the study at its own meetings, and some take public input there too.

• Burlington School Board meetings
• South Burlington School Board meetings
• Winooski School Board meetings. Winooski also has a residents’ group, the Merger Study Buddies, that meets during regular board meetings on the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.

Last updated October 27, 2026.