DUMMERSTON — Are we a democracy? I am afraid that it doesn't look that way, based upon what has happened over the years around Act 46.
We just witnessed the representatives in the House of Representatives (the People's House) vote against a delay in forcing mergers. They voted to force merger on school districts that have voted overwhelmingly not to merge. By the way, all but one of our Windham County legislators voted for a delay, backing our citizens who voted against merger.
The secretary of education, the Agency of Education and the Board of Education have been pushing districts to merge for over three years. The secretary's report to the Board of Education states many times that the vote of the populace is merely “community sentiment.” Why should we even vote if the powers that be decide that if we don't vote the way they want, our votes don't count?
The Board of Education went even further and required merger for those the secretary said were OK not to merge. All these people are appointed. Where do they get their power?
This happens not only at the state level but also right here in our WSESU school district. Some school board members in Putney, Brattleboro, and Guilford have decided that they know better than their voters and have continued to push for forced merger over the wishes of their communities.
These communities voted no by an overwhelming margin in a large turnout of voters. Are these school board members representing their constituents or themselves?
We, the people, need to wake up, or bit by bit. It is like putting that lobster in either cold or boiling water: One is slow death, and the other is quick.
We need to stand up for our rights, or we will slowly lose them.