DUMMERSTON — I can understand why people are are confused as to what they are being asked to vote on for the school district on Nov. 19.
When our school districts were merged by the state, we were given default articles of agreement, the rules by which the new district is supposed to operate. Some of these articles can be changed by the electorate, and others can not.
The new district board has been working to amend four of the articles that they and the public have felt would be better for our area's operation. They are now bringing these four proposed changes to the voters.
• Question 1: Representation - The default articles gave equal representation of two school board members from each of the four towns. All are elected by a combined vote of all the towns and are supposed to represent all all of the area's students, not just their own. With this kind of equal representation, everyone needs to work together on issues, with no one town overpowering another.
The board is asking to add two additional members from Brattleboro, which would give that town four members and Putney, Dummerston, and Guilford each two for a total of 10 board members, thereby giving Brattleboro more weight.
• Question 2: Grade configuration - The most important change is the one concerning whether grades that are currently operated in a school can be changed, and how.
To change the grade configuration in any school building, there would have to be one year of study by the district board, considering all impacts on students and the community, including public forums. Any vote to change the structure would have to be supported by a majority of the board and would require an affirmative vote by the affected town.
This article cannot be changed without approval of the electorate of each member town.
• Question 3: Closure of school buildings - The important changes, if approved, would be that no schools may be closed in the first five years of the district's operation.
After that time, if the district board plans to close a school building, there would need to be one year of study, considering all the impacts on students and the community. There would be at least one public forum and would have to be supported by a majority of the District Board.
And most importantly, the majority of the voters in the affected town would need to vote in favor of closing the school in their town.
This article cannot be changed unless approved by the electorate of each individual member town.
• Question 4: Leadership councils - This amendment is proposing a leadership council in each school building as a way to help make up for the fact that because of the merger, locally elected school boards are no longer in existence.
The councils would be made up of school administrators, teachers, parents, community members, and students (when appropriate). They would serve in an advisory role only, as they are not elected. However, they could have many responsibilities to help guide their school and inform the district board.
Whatever your positions are on these amendments, please get out and vote.