To the editor:
The opinions expressed below are mine only and do not reflect the view of the New Marlborough Select Board, of which I am a member.
I am writing to express my concerns with the regional agreement the Eight Town Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB) has presented to merge Southern Berkshire Regional School District (SBRSD) and Berkshire Hills Regional School District (BHRSD). Having attended numerous community conversations and presentations organized by the RSDPB, I must acknowledge the dedicated efforts of community members who have invested considerable time and energy into exploring the potential of a merged district.
However, as a parent of three young children at SBRSD and an alumna of the district, I cannot in good faith support the current merger proposal in its current form and will vote no.
Below are several of my key concerns:
Underutilization of SBRSD’s Campus and its Future: The proposed merger will leave SBRSD’s well-maintained campus largely unoccupied, raising questions about the future of Mt. Everett’s building. In addition, all assets of SBRSD, including buildings and land, will transfer to the new district without a clear long-term plan for their strategic use. Without a plan, deterioration and abandonment seem inevitable.
Uncertain Costs: The estimated $100 million for building a new high school on Monument Mountain’s campus may not accurately reflect the true cost, with experts suggesting a figure closer to $150 million. Additional costs, such as post-employment benefits and relocation expenses, remain unknown.
Inevitable Closure of Town-Owned Elementary Schools: “School Buildings in Member Towns may be owned by the District or leased by the District.” This ambiguous language in the proposed agreement leaves the fate of New Marlborough Central (NMC) and South Egremont (SES) elementary in peril if new mutually agreed-upon lease agreements between the new district and towns cannot be reached. In addition, the proposed requirement for students to “attend the school in closest proximity to their residence” will force most students in these schools to leave their friends and established school communities, thus eliminating the need for these buildings resulting in closure.
Loss of Special Programs and Designations: Valuable programs such as Mt. Everett’s Early College program with Bard College at Simon’s Rock, Innovation Career Pathways designation, and new partnership with the Transcend group will end. Mount Everett’s new FFA designation to fly drone’s on the school’s campus will be in jeopardy too.
Unequal Voting Power: The critical debt vote, which towns vote to approve, will be decided by a majority vote across all towns, not by a majority vote in each member town. The Berkshire Hills towns have 8,034 registered voters, while the Southern Berkshire towns have 6,074, potentially disadvantaging smaller Southern Berkshire towns in this vote.
Additionally, any amendments to the new regional agreement would not require a consensus from all towns, only an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the eight towns, leaving up to two towns in disagreement with any future changes.
Inefficiencies in Transportation: Despite claims of increased efficiency, our local experts dispute the feasibility of computer-generated routes on our rural roads, potentially leading to increased transportation times for many students.
Pre-K Enrollment not Considered: With expanded early childhood programs, SBRSD has seen a 4 percent increase in elementary enrollment since 2019 with pre-K numbers included. In addition, SBRSD’s administration has taken strategic steps to innovate in the face of declining enrollment challenges to attract and retain students.
Diverse Opportunities: Maintaining two districts with distinct offerings, such as Mt. Everett’s early college and innovative pathways and Monument’s potential for vocational/technical programming, could attract a broader range of families to the area.
In conclusion, I believe that merging the districts may not address the core issue of declining enrollment, and instead, having two districts with unique opportunities could attract a more diverse student population. Both BHRSD and SBRSD possess unique strengths and diverse programming that cater to individual student needs. Collaboration between the two districts could bring benefits without the need for a merger that overlooks crucial considerations.
I urge you to carefully consider the lasting implications of voting in favor of the proposed regional agreement. This decision will undoubtedly have a profound and lasting effect on our schools and communities.
Beth Dean
New Marlborough
