The ConVal School Board has stepped back from its plan to propose a school consolidation plan this year, but local parents have decided to put forth a petition calling for more information on any future consolidation plans.
During its meeting Thursday, which was held to finalize the district’s budget and warrant articles in anticipation of the public hearing tonight, the School Board voted to remove two articles it had previously proposed to be included in the district’s warrant.
The first would have reduced the number of schools in the district from 11 to five, phased in over the next several years. The second would have charged more to schools with populations of under 65 students.
The School Board agreed to remove both articles, in favor of a new article, which would change the district’s funding formula.
Currently, the funding formula is calculated based on 50 percent of the cost based on the average daily membership of students, and 50 percent on the total equalized valuation of the towns. The proposed new formula would be 40 percent based on student membership and 60 percent on total equalized valuation.
The article would change the district’s articles of agreement, and would require 2/3 of voters to agree to pass.
On Friday, parents from Dublin and Temple, the two towns in the district with the smallest elementary schools, met at Temple Elementary School to discuss putting forth a petition warrant article to combat the district’s original consolidation article, which could have eventually closed all but two of the district’s elementary schools.
About 25 people attended the meeting, including Temple’s School Board representative Nikki McGettigan and two members of Temple’s Select Board, according to organizer Cindi Connolly of Temple.
The meeting was originally scheduled prior to the board’s decision to remove the consolidation article, said Connolly, but the group decided to continue with their meeting, as consolidation has been a proposal brought up on multiple occasions, and it’s likely it will be back on the table eventually.
“Even though the School Board took consolidation off the table, it’s not gone away,” Connolly said. “It’s been a topic for 10, 12 years. We want to keep some skin in the game.”
After discussion Friday, the parent group decided to submit a petition warrant article that would require the School Board submit a comprehensive analysis and implementation plan detailing financial, educational and social impacts of any school closure. The board would be required to submit the report prior to proposing any school closure within the district.
“Knowing this may come again, and not knowing what other petition warrant articles may be put in, we want to make sure they have to do their due diligence,” Connolly said. “Basically, the voters need to be given adequate information, before any consolidation plan has to go to the towns for a vote.”
Connolly said as of Saturday, the petition had been distributed at the general stores in both Dublin and Temple, and the Temple petition had already gathered 20 signatures. Signatures of 25 registered voters are required in order for a petition article to be included on the warrant. Connolly said she anticipated submitting the petition warrant article to the district on Jan. 7 or on the morning of Jan. 8, which is the final day for submitting petition warrant articles to the School District.