South Burlington — Vermont State Sen. Thomas Chittenden was appointed Wednesday to fill a vacant seat on the South Burlington School Board and will serve the remaining seven months of the term, the board announced.
The seat opened when a teacher, Laura Williams, resigned last month after expressing frustration with local tensions over the board’s perceived stance on neutrality during an immigration and enforcement-related incident. Chittenden, who represents South Burlington in the Statehouse, was the only applicant and told the board he does not intend to seek election for the seat in March.
What this means for residents
Chittenden said in a public Facebook post that one of his primary reasons for accepting the appointment is to see how recent state action — Act 170 — may affect South Burlington schools. He also acknowledged concerns about the property tax burden felt by residents across the city and state.
- He will serve through Town Meeting Day and then vacate the seat.
- Chittenden’s short tenure is framed as informational: to bring state-level knowledge to local decision-making.
- The appointment follows a high-profile resignation that has drawn attention to school board neutrality and staff-community relations.
Board chair Seamus Abshere said Chittenden learned of the vacancy while board members were distributing flyers at a recent SoBu Night Out event and offered to serve as a backup candidate if the board could not find others. Abshere called Chittenden’s willingness to serve important given the board is facing "really tough issues."
"I appreciate his willingness to serve. The school board is facing really tough issues. We need people who can have a hard discussion and deal with it like an adult," Abshere said, according to the Burlington Free Press.
Background and local implications
Chittenden has represented the South Burlington area at the state level since 2020 and is a South Burlington High School graduate. His children attend local schools, and he has previously been involved in district and municipal matters, including participating in the hiring process for the superintendent, according to reporting from the Burlington Free Press.
For South Burlington residents, the appointment means the board will have a full complement of members through the coming months as it navigates implementation questions raised by Act 170 and ongoing community concerns about school climate and fiscal pressures. Chittenden’s stated focus on understanding structural changes suggests his role will emphasize oversight and information-gathering rather than long-term policy initiatives.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Appointee | Sen. Thomas Chittenden (D–Chittenden-Southeast) |
| Term length | Remaining ~7 months through Town Meeting Day |
| Reason for vacancy | Resignation of teacher Laura Williams amid tensions |
| Will he run in March? | No — Chittenden said he will not be a candidate |
The appointment process underscores the challenges many Vermont school boards face: filling vacancies quickly, balancing professional staff relationships and community expectations, and responding to state policy changes while managing local tax pressures. South Burlington officials say they hope the short-term appointment will provide stability and expertise during a transitional period.
Residents with questions about the school board or the appointment can contact the South Burlington School District office for meeting schedules and public comment opportunities.
