School Consolidation Update
by Rowan Beck,
May 19, 2011, page 6.....

Talk of merging school districts and boards in the Chittenden South Supervisory Union (CSSU) continues with the Consolidation Study Committee. Like school districts throughout the state, CSSU is studying whether or not to create a pre-K through grade 12 Regional Educational District (RED). At the last meeting, committee members looked at the fears and concerns raised by members of school boards from Charlotte and the other CSSU schools and have yet to decide whether it is advisable to move forward or not. They do not expect to bring the discussion to a public forum until at least the fall, according to committee member Sue Thibault.
Charlotte has two school board members, Kristin Wright and Sue Thibault, and one community member, Rich Lowrey, on the committee. Some of the concerns that have been raised are loss of identity and voice, closing a school (especially Charlotte Central School), adequate advocacy for students who really need it, and one tax rate for the entire district. Would wealthier towns subsidize less fortunate towns? “We’re really still in the brainstorming phase,” Rich Lowrey said. “Nothing is black or white.” A big question that has been posed is “What are the financial positives?”
Some of the hopes being examined include the possibility of expanded programs, flexibility in school structure, drawing on the wisdom of other communities, the ability to pilot different programs and sharing research in educational learning. “We really need to do more research,” Thibault said. The committee recognizes the challenge of keeping a local voice and local control if the school boards merge. At the moment it appears it is faced with more questions than answers. Another meeting is scheduled in June.