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 received an exceptional education from Southern Berkshire Regional School District (SBRSD), which shaped my character, critical thinking, and academic foundation.
Today, my three children are receiving the same exceptional education at SBRSD. They are making lifelong friendships and benefiting from dedicated teachers who prioritize their social and emotional well-being. Extracurricular opportunities are numerous. Collaboration between classes is encouraged, fostering a culture of kindness.
Our small community schools are unique, serving as hubs for social events, sports, theater productions, and town meetings. The face-to-face interaction within these schools is invaluable at a time when screens dominate our attention and limit human interaction.
Small class sizes allow for more individualized learning and stronger connections between teachers, students, and parents. There is a level of personal connection that is not possible in larger settings with a higher student-to-teacher ratio.
The impact of merging schools would be immense. Removing high school students from Mt. Everett would leave middle school students without opportunities to engage in theater, sports, and extracurricular activities as they always have with older students. The unused building will feel deserted, leaving middle school students in a large, mostly unused building, and limiting extracurricular opportunities.
The effects on the Sheffield community should not be overlooked. Small businesses patronized by students and their families will suffer if the merger occurs. Parents with multiple children will face daily travel between Sheffield and the Great Barrington campus, worsening traffic congestion and burdening parents unnecessarily.
Key elements of the merger proposal will remove students from our small schools. The agreement states that students must attend the school closest to their residence, which disregards the significant distance traveled by students attending New Marlborough Central and South Egremont School. These small schools attract students from all over our district and beyond. This detail will have a dramatic effect on these small schools, potentially leading to their closure due to low enrollment numbers.
The decision to merge BHRSD and SBRSD is crucial, with significant implications for small schools, local businesses, faculty, staff, and, most importantly, students. It is important to consider these implications before making a choice. I urge you to reach out to parents, teachers, staff, and current and former students to gather their opinions, as they are the most valuable in this decision-making process.
Beth Dean
New Marlborough
