To the editor:
Merging school districts evokes an emotional reaction. Defining questions are: Are we meeting the needs of our students, and can we do better with a merger?
In the face of severe enrollment declines, both Southern Berkshire (SBRSD) and Berkshire Hills (BHRSD) regional school districts could benefit from a potential merger in many ways. However, some people still want this third-year planning process to halt.
One contrary case being made is that SBRSD has a completed high school building (Mount Everett) where 130 students attend grades 9 to 12. Some are unaware, however, that a significant number of their high school students—57 to be exact—are choosing-in to BHRSD’s Monument Mountain High School. Do we know why?
Egremont, one of five SBRSD towns, is choicing-out 16 students to Monument, more than those attending their own Mt. Everett school with 14. Comparable figures for New Marlborough attending Monument vs. Mt. Everett are 13 students vs. 25; for Alford: 4 vs. 3; for Monterey: 11 vs. 16 at Mt. Everett.
Non-district students comprise nearly 40 percent of Monument’s population. The majority comes from SBRSD towns, but many are from Otis, Sandisfield, Richmond (with no high school), and 14 other towns. Whether the reasons are for diverse curricula access, broader student exposure, sports opportunities, or other reasons, these factors influence enrollment shifts.
Both potential merging districts are also seeing the loss of students to vocational schools, namely North Adams’ McCann School and Pittsfield Taconic High School, which triggers hefty tuition fees, capital, and transportation costs charged directly to the “sending town.” These fees could reach $20,000-25,000 per student.
The potential merger will enable the eight towns to access broader certified (Chapter 74) Career Vocational Technical Education (CVTE) programs, filling a void in South County. BHRSD has two such programs and SBRSD has none. Adding four to five programs within the new district could potentially save the eight towns’ non-district sending fees and possibly attract students, providing additional non-district income. Added to the equation, the State provides significant funding programs when planning and building a new high school.
Taking a long view, the 8-Town report shows SBRSD enrollment in the year 2000 at 1,072. With current enrollment at 568 students, it won’t take long to reach the 2030 projection of 403. This trend is not expected to change, so it’s important to address this now.
In the face of declining enrollment across South County, mergers should increase educational opportunities as well as provide cost savings. Preparatory plans led by the Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB) could yield opportunities ahead of this sliding trend. Let’s make it a priority in 2023!
Sharon Gregory
Great Barrington
