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UPDATE ON CONSOLIDATION - NOVEMBER 8, 2007
From Chris Leighton, Chair Freeport School Committee
The various media outlets have done a very good job in providing the public with information about the ongoing work on consolidation by school districts and the "Reorganization planning committees" ("RPCs"). However, some readers may have been left with the impression that the consolidation process is moving too swiftly, or that communities like Freeport may be "trapped" into a consolidation that may not work for Freeport. The purpose of this article is to give everyone in Freeport an overview of the consolidation process at this point in time.
What is very clear to all involved in consolidation, and this is true statewide, is that the consolidation process has proven itself to be a very complex proposition indeed. How the finances will work in a consolidated school district is an enormously important question. The RPC effort in Freeport has already worked with three financial templates coming out of the Department of Education, and it is probably fair to assume that there will be more to follow. There is an issue between communities regarding school choice. Whether we will all be on the same page educationally is a crucial question. The plain fact of the matter is that we do not yet have answers to these questions, and the Reorganization Planning Committee and the School Committee recognize the need to take the time to find solid answers to these questions. There is little doubt in my mind that the comprehensive plan required by the law to be filed on December 1, 2007 will be filed by
few, if any, communities. There is simply no way to make a responsible decision about consolidation at this point in time, and with only a few weeks left before December 1, the answers to the tough questions will simply not be there. It is my belief that the plan filed by the Freeport, Pownal and Durham RPC will be, at best, a skeletal plan with a request to the Commissioner to continue planning.
Another "wildcard" to the consolidation effort is the fact that more than 60 bills have been filed to amend the consolidation law. While a number of them have a laudable purpose, for instance, to try to deal with the financial disparity that is cropping up between possible partner communities, there may be other bills that will tinker with other parts of the law. There should be a fair amount of agreement for the proposition that responsible planning is made more difficult when the law that is the foundation for consolidation work may very well change!
The RPC and the School Committee understand the enormity of this task, and the profound effect that this decision is going to have on education here in Freeport (and all of our communities) for years to come. I believe the majority of people in Freeport understand, appreciate and respect the work (and frankly, the sacrifice in their personal lives) undertaken by the RPC, and also understand and respect the responsibility of the School Committee to determine the best response to consolidation. I am sure this is true in Durham, Pownal, and other communities engaged in this effort. We must all recognize that ultimately it will be the voters of Freeport and all of our communities who will decide the fate of consolidation. This is undoubtedly going to be a long process, and we must all be patient while we seek answers to the many challenging questions created by the consolidation law.
Finally, let me say a few words about Durham as a possible consolidation partner. Before we made the decision to add Durham as a possible partner, we had a number of discussions with the Durham School Committee and their superintendent. We quickly learned that the Durham School Committee, like the Freeport and Pownal School Committees, is committed to quality education for their students. It is interesting to note that Durham's test scores are remarkably similar to Freeport's test scores. They are in the process of building a new K-8 school, and on November 6 the voters of Durham strongly supported additional spending on the new school in order to add a better roof, a larger gymnasium, and even install geothermal heating. At a community meeting in September where their community voted in favor of pursuing a possible consolidation with Freeport and Pownal, I was pleased to hear many of the parents address their interest in quality education.
Importantly, Durham is a growing school community. This is a contrast to Freeport, where we have a declining student population. One need only look at the high school numbers, where classes of over 100 are graduating, and our current Kindergarten class which numbers 67. We as School Committee members have seen the problems that arise with a declining student population and believe that an opportunity to increase student enrollment is worth a very close look. Durham presents an obvious opportunity to add students to our High School. We believe it is entirely possible that the addition of students to our High School will mean more opportunities for AP programs, more freshmen and junior varsity sports, and more Fine Arts and other electives that will add to the richness of the High School experience for all our students.
Do the above positives mean that we are going to consolidate with Durham? The immediate answer is unknown, because the unanswered questions regarding finances, governance of the new district, school choice, and other thorny issues need to be resolved to everyone's satisfaction before we can make a decision about is what is best for Freeport. The responsible course is to take the time to look for answers to the questions swirling around consolidation and make decisions based upon thoughtful and careful analysis. I respectfully request that the good citizens of Freeport stay in touch with the process, check the school website for updates, attend meetings of the Reorganization Planning Committee, and let us know your thoughts and concerns as we continue to roll up our sleeves and work diligently on seeking answers to the hard questions raised by consolidation.
Chris Leighton, Chair
Freeport School Committee
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