Winooski cites one language, not 17, in reply to Scott

Winooski School District says it offers only one world language, not the 17 cited by Vermont Gov. Phil Scott during a gubernatorial debate. The district released a statement Friday asking the governor to correct the record.

Scott made the remark on Wednesday while responding to questions from WCAX moderators Darren Perron and Cat Viglienzoni. He argued that students in rural schools would benefit from consolidation plans because Chittenden County areas offer more linguistic choices. “Where some have, you know, one or two languages being offered. Whereas in Winooski and some of the Chittenden County areas, they have 17. That’s not an equal education and we need to do better than that,” Scott said.

The Winooski School Board said the comment did not reflect their current curriculum. They identified the single language offered as French. The board called the remark a “dog whistle” in their statement. “When a Governor names our district on a statewide stage and overstates what we receive, many Vermonters will hear a familiar message: that their tax dollars are paying for special treatment for a community that looks different from theirs,” the board wrote.

Essex-Westford School District also contacted WCAX News to voice support for the Winooski response. Both districts are located in Chittenden County.

Scott’s team was asked for comment by WCAX News prior to the story's publication on Friday but had not responded at the time of printing.

The debate took place on Wednesday. The Winooski statement followed on Friday.