The Jaffrey-Rindge School Separation Study Committee has unanimously voted to recommend against dissolving the district.
In March, the town of Rindge passed a petition warrant article asking for a study on the “the feasibility and suitability of a plan for dissolution” of the Jaffrey-Rindge School District.
After several months of study, the committee voted 6-0, with one member absent, to recommend against dissolution.
A report is currently being compiled with the committee’s findings, which is expected to be approved at their next – and last – meeting on Nov. 21.
Committee Chair Chris Ratcliffe said in an interview Friday that there were not compelling arguments either financially or educationally to support dissolving the district.
The committee determined the taxpayers fund $18,342 per student annually to educate Rindge students and $15,733 for Jaffrey students.
The committee looked at tuition costs for sending students out of the district, but also looked at the costs for transporting them, paying off Rindge’s portion of outstanding bonds, and the cost of dispersing Rindge’s portion of the district assets.
“It was a clear difference,” Ratcliffe said, of the costs of Rindge staying in district versus withdrawing. “No matter how we work the numbers it wasn’t feasible.”
The committee also looked at course offerings in nearby school districts and said there wasn’t a compelling case that Rindge students could get a better education by leaving the district.
“We just concluded there wasn’t enough of a difference educationally to justify a move,” Ratcliffe said. “We looked at information that is publicly available, such as course offerings, and while there were some areas that were stronger – and some areas weaker – we determined students are getting a quality education in the district.”
Ratcliffe said after it is complete, the study will be submitted to the state’s Department of Education as well as the Jaffrey-Rindge School Board.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 244 or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter @AshleySaariMLT.