To the editor:
“School District Committee members threaten to quit Eight-Town Planning Board” in your September 27 issue presents one viewpoint of the Southern Berkshire Regional School District (SBRSD) members.
However, as a citizen observer, I have attended the same meetings and have a different impression. I commend Chair Lucy Prashker, Vice-Chair Peter Taylor, and Principal Consultant Jake Eberwein for their dedicated efforts to coordinate such a large group on a very complex, extremely relevant subject: the future of education in South County.
Let’s go to the heart of the matter. Where does the Eight-Town Regional School District Planning Board stand and whom do they represent? By state statute, each of the towns is represented by three members: a) one from the select board; b) a citizen at large; and c) one from the school committee. After three years of meetings, including the first one in July 2019 at the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, much has happened and at great expense.
In April 2022, the Eight-Town Regional School District Planning Board voted 16 – 6 to move toward one of the consolidation proposals, narrowing the choices down so that more depth could be achieved in the next phase. These include drafting a regional agreement, a detailed transportation plan, and other policies currently underway. Four of those opposed were school committee members.
Putting the brakes on now would hinder the Board’s responsibilities to provide the best education within the financial limits of all participating towns. The Eight-Town consulting work was a result of 2 ½ years of effort. Funds have been provided by the state, both school committees, eight towns, local businesses and foundations.
The need to consolidate seems clear. I urge all South County residents to review the projections from the Eight-Towns website, which are even more dire than earlier estimates
From 2000-2022, enrollment in our two districts dropped by 35 percent. By 2030 enrollment will have dropped by a projected 52 percent, to 1,280. View the detailed enrollment report here.
WHAT IS ENROLLMENT TODAY IN THE TWO DISTRICTS?*
The SBRSD School Committee might look at their own SBRSD statistics on the 8Towns.org website: In 2021, 19 percent of the students opted to “Choice-Out” to other districts. Of those students, 89 percent to 95 percent were enrolled at Berkshire Hills Regional School District in each of the past five years.
Both regional school districts need to move forward. As it stands now, the proposal is to:
- Keep all elementary schools open;
- Combine the 2 high schools (grades 9 to 12) in a new building.
- Co-locate 6 to 8 certified vocational-technical curriculum specialists who would be heavily financed by the State to enable students to use all options without the stigma or cost to towns of traveling to another location.
- The new combined high school would be funded 90 percent by the three towns now in BHRSD and 10 percent by the five towns now in SBRSD.
For seven years, I have attended meetings with the BERK 12 (BCETF) organization dealing with the loss of the County’s students. They have partly funded the work of the Eight-Town Regional School District Planning Board. This is in addition to three years of consolidation meetings. Many South County leaders have supported this initiative and its funding.
Isn’t it time to move expeditiously and thoughtfully in an effort to give ALL our students the best education we can afford?
For those who have questions or want to provide feedback to the Eight-Town Regional School District Planning Board, simply go to this page: https://8towns.org/contact
Sharon Gregory
Great Barrington
