Vermont’s Act 170 of 2026 also requires districts to participate in merger study committees.

These committees are groups of school board members who are required to develop a recommendation based on educational, financial, operational, and governance considerations, submitting a final report to the Vermont State Board of Education by September 1, 2027. The committee does not itself merge the districts. The question of whether to form a unified union school district ultimately goes to voters under the applicable process.

Act 170 created CESAs across Vermont. ER UUSD and NMV UUSD are in the Champlain Valley North CESA with Maple Run SD, Missisquoi Valley SD, Grand Isle SU , Franklin West SU, and Milton SD.