While I expected debate on Article 17 to be heated, I assumed that transparent and consistently applied rules would govern the meeting. What I observed instead was a concerted effort to put the citizens who submitted the petition at the grossest possible disadvantage.
"We're moving forward and expect to be ready for children well before the school year, if not sooner." -- Bruce Turner, chair, Egremont Board of Selectmen
Quite apart from getting the budget passed before July 1 is the question of how to find the extra $52,000 to restore transportation to New Marlborough Central School for next year.
In his letter to the editor, Ralph Noveck writes: “It has been shown that kids exposed to this kind of small, nurturing environment [in Egremont Village School] do better when they graduate to elementary and high school.”
In his letter to the editor Steve Willig of Egremont writes: “In what appears to be a weak attempt to save face, the Egremont Board of Selectmen announced plans to spend my tax dollars bringing a lawsuit against the district for violating the terms of the regional agreement.”
Clearly, consolidation did nothing to control taxes in Great Barrington. And, based on the Egremont In her letter to the editor, Susan Bachelder writes: "Finance Committee's evaluation of the SBRSD budget, closing the Egremont village school will have no effect at all on SBRSD escalating school taxes either."
The complaint further asks the court to consider the School Committee's action to be a "material breach" and to grant the town the authority to enter into "tuition agreements with another district or districts."
