Should Amherst settle for less representation in a Regional School district?
The headlong rush to regionalize local schools at the pre-K through grade 6 level was derailed by our current partner in the 7-12 Region, Shutesbury, pulling out of the proposed merger.
The Amherst Regional School District Planning Board has been meeting for almost two years and like the gambler who has invested a fortune in a slot machine the urge to see a "return on investment" is exceedingly high.
Thus tonight's meeting is a crossing (or not) of the Rubicon ... or maybe a Waterloo.
Thus tonight's meeting is a crossing (or not) of the Rubicon ... or maybe a Waterloo.
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I've
written a letter on the need for proportional representation on any new
Regional School Committee. Under the new Regional school committee
proposed last Spring, an Amherst resident'
The smaller towns are greatly concerned about Amherst'
If you want to sign this letter, please email me back at janetmcgowan30@
I will present the letter at both the December 5th meetings (and continue to collect names after). The Amherst'
Thanks.
Janet McGowan
janetmcgowan30@
____________
An Open Letter to all Members of the Regional School District Planning Board:
We urge the RSDPB members now exploring different options for regionalizing the elementary schools of Amherst, Leverett, Pelham and Shutesbury to consider both the educational advantages—and the fair and equitable representation for Amherst residents. Amherst now pays 77.37 % of the assessment for the current 7-12 Region, and our population is 88% of the total population for all four towns. Under the one man, one vote Constitutional principal, Amherst must have its fair proportion of the votes on any new Regional school committee.
We support Regionalizing our schools—
· if there are concrete educational benefits for Amherst students,
· if it improves the economic sustainability of Amherst schools, and
· if the votes of Amherst residents have equal weight to the votes in the other towns.
In Amherst, we are from many different cultures, nations, ethnicities, educational backgrounds, economic levels and races. Our voices should be heard in the governance of our Regional school committee and we want our votes counted equally. We do not support Regionalizing if representation on the new Regional school committee is disproportional and Amherst votes are diluted. With the exception of a single Region, in the Commonwealth all other Regions have proportional representation on their school committee or weight the votes of members by town. Each town elects their own members onto their Regional committee. A proposed Pre-K-6 Regional Agreement must recommend no less.
We hope that you will address this critical issue soon. We hope that you keep the public well informed of your discussions and deliberations through media, meetings (with public comment), and emails to town residents and parents—all taking place well before any town votes on a new Region.
Signed:
(name) (address) (town meeting member?)
7 comments:
I wonder what Shutesbury has that makes them think they're so special?
They are worried that if their elementary school is absorbed into the collective, it could be closed down to save money.
A headlong rush to regionalize that they have been studying for 2 years? Hardly sounds like a headlong rush to me.
The downtown Parking Garage took 25.
This is the "dilution" of minority votes, and it is illegal. I wonder how Team Maria would do in Federal Receivership....
All I can say to Leverett & Shutesbury - buyer beware:
Representative Alice Peisch
Joint Committee on Education
State House
Room 473G
Boston, MA 02133
RE: HB 3574 Support
Dear Chairperson Peisch:
I am writing to express my support of House Bill 3574, An Act relative to the withdrawal of the town of Worthington from the Gateway Regional School District.
As a parent and community member, I support this bill because it will give Worthington back what every small town needs – a local public school. When the Gateway Regional School District voted to close our school in 2010 our community rallied and created a small private elementary school in the old school building. However, we feel that it’s important to the children and the community to have a public school again. Without the stability of a public school, new families may not move here, our population may decrease, and the heart of the community will be missing.
Passage of this bill would allow us to re-establish a public elementary school in our small rural town, and we would develop a fee-for-service relationship with the Hampshire Regional School District for grades 7-12, and for Superintendency services. At every Town Meeting since the public school closed, our residents have overwhelmingly voted to move forward with this project. We are ready and willing to support the school with our time, talent, and tax dollars.
Thank you for your consideration of my support.
Sincerely,
Name
Address
Phone
Cc: Senator Benjamin Downing
Representative Stephen Kulik
11:09 a.m.:
Hmmm. Sounds like once you're in, you're in, for better or worse. Definitely food for thought.
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