by the Journal-Opinion
Blue Mountain Union School Board members want to hold a public forum to talk about school district consolidation.
During a wide-ranging discussion at the Orange County district’s board meeting on Sept. 3, members said they hope to solicit community input on how the district should move forward as the state begins to implement the provisions of Act 73.
“How do we want to position ourselves?” asked Orange East Supervisory Union Superintendent Heather Lawler. “When we unpack legislation, how do we want to come through this?”
BMU is not alone. The district for students in Groton, Ryegate, and Wells River is part of OESU, which has formed an Act 73 strategic planning committee. It met yesterday.
Act 73 formed a statewide redistricting task force, which is holding meetings–one of which could be held at Oxbow next month. Committee member state Sen. Scott Beck, R-St. Johnsbury, attended the BMU board meeting on Wednesday.
He said the task force is ultimately making a recommendation to the legislature, which could ignore or change its findings.
So what exactly does Act 73 do?
“If it unfolds as planned, the legislation will drastically reshape how the state’s pre-K through 12th grade schools are governed and financed,” reported the Brattleboro Reformer. “The stage will be set for a sweeping overhaul that will play out more visibly over the next 3-4 years.”
Act 73 and declining enrollment prompted Danville School Board members to talk about the future of its high school earlier this week, reported the Caledonian-Record. The district attracted fewer tuition students than budgeted while increasing numbers of Danville residents are paying tuition to attend high school elsewhere.
“The meeting turned emotional as teachers and parents defended the value of Danville’s offerings. Spencer Morse, a teacher and parent, noted the concrete benefits his own children received: ‘We are talking about closing a place where Danville residents get a lot of value out of, and they aren’t going to get the same value out of here.'”