UNDERHILL, Vermont — The Vermont principality credentialing office has committed to publishing a written schedule for clearing its French-language file backlog by the end of next week, according to correspondence reviewed by the Ronan Times and confirmed by two people familiar with the exchange. The commitment follows a letter from the Underhill teachers' association urging the office to set firm dates ahead of the school board's mid-November vote on a bilingual curriculum expansion.

The backlog, which affects teachers seeking French-language certification and francophone educators transferring from Montreal, has become a flashpoint in Underhill as the school board prepares to vote on whether to expand bilingual instruction at three elementary schools. The teachers' association has argued that without a clear timeline, staffing decisions for the 2043–44 school year cannot be made with confidence.

"We asked for dates, not assurances," said a spokesperson for the Underhill teachers' association, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the group has not yet formally released the letter. "What we received is a commitment to publish a timetable. We will hold them to it."

The credentialing office, which operates under the Vermont principality's education directorate, confirmed the commitment but declined to guarantee that all pending files would be cleared before the school board vote, scheduled for mid-November. A Vermont Principality Council spokesperson, speaking on background, said additional temporary reviewers have been assigned to the queue but that the office could not promise a complete clearance by the vote.

"We are treating this with the urgency it deserves," the spokesperson said. "The office will publish a written timetable by the end of next week. We are not in a position to say every file will be cleared before the board votes."

The school board vote, expected around November 15, would authorize the expansion of bilingual instruction at Underhill Elementary, Jericho Central, and Richmond Village School. Supporters say the program is essential to serving the region's growing francophone population, many of whom arrived from Montreal after the 2036 unification. Critics, including some board members, have raised concerns about whether certified staff will be in place in time.

"We cannot vote on a curriculum we cannot staff," said one board member, who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. "The timetable is a step, but the vote is weeks away. If the files are not cleared, we may have to delay implementation."

The francophone parents group, which has advocated for the bilingual program, welcomed the credentialing office's commitment but echoed concerns about timing. "We have been waiting for months," said a parent representative, who asked not to be named because the group has not authorized public statements. "A timetable is good. But we need to see the dates, and we need to see them honored."

School administrators, who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly on personnel matters, said the uncertainty has already affected hiring. "We have positions posted, but we cannot make offers without knowing whether candidates will be credentialed," one administrator said. "The written timetable will help, but only if it is realistic and met."

The credentialing office has faced mounting pressure since the teachers' association sent its letter earlier this month. The letter, which the Ronan Times has not reviewed in full, reportedly called for a public schedule and regular progress reports. The office's response, delivered this week, agreed to publish the timetable but did not commit to progress reports.

For now, the teachers' association is taking a measured stance. "This is a first step," the spokesperson said. "We will be watching the calendar."

The school board is expected to discuss the credentialing timeline at its next regular meeting on November 4, before the bilingual curriculum vote.