Nov 3 2012 presentation

Regional School District Planning Board
Town Officials Update
Amherst, Leverett, Pelham, Shutesbury
November 3, 2012

www.RegionalSchoolPlanning.com
regionalschoolplanningboard@googlegroups.com

2

Regional School District 11/3/2012
Planning Board

Board Members
Appointed by the Four Towns
• Amherst
▫ Katherine Appy (Amherst School Committee)
▫ Alisa Brewer (Amherst Select Board)
▫ Andy Steinberg, Chair of the Board (Amherst Finance Committee)
• Leverett
▫ Ann Delano (Leverett Finance Committee)
▫ Kip Fonsh (Leverett School Committee)
▫ Julie Shively (Leverett Select Board)
• Pelham
▫ Trevor Baptiste (Pelham School Committee)
▫ Jeff Eiseman (Pelham Zoning Board of Appeals)
▫ Darius Modestow (Pelham School Committee)
• Shutesbury
▫ Michael DeChiara, Secretary/Treasurer (Shutesbury School Committee)
▫ Elaine Puleo, Vice Chair of Board (Shutesbury Select Board)
▫ Becky Torres (Shutesbury Town Administrator)

3

Planning Board

Our Values Guide Us
The Regional School District Planning Board’s (RSDPB)
work is being guided by the following values:
 Be good stewards.
We received good schools from past generations, and take
seriously our responsibility to invest in the future by handing
off good schools to the generations that follow.
 Be fiscally responsible.
Be thoughtful and realistic about cost to the towns, and
understand short and long-term results of any investment.
 Provide ample opportunities for town and
resident input.
 Learn about, respect, and reflect the culture of the
different communities.
 Maintain the best features of current schools;
capitalize on their strengths.

4

Planning Board

Agenda
• Welcome and Introductions - Andy Steinberg
• History of regionalization – Michael DeChiara
• Models & Options – Elaine Puleo
• Discussion with Legislators
• Review of Handouts
• Timeline & Process - Michael DeChiara
• Consultants, Funding & Costs – Kip Fonsh
• Core Issues – Darius Modestow
• Voter Approval – Alisa Brewer
• Outreach & Communications Plan – Julie Shively
• Working with our Town Officials

5

Planning Board

History of Current Educational Systems for
Amherst, Leverett, Pelham & Shutesbury

1901: Superintendency Union #26 of Amherst &
Pelham authorized by special act of the legislature
1901: Superintendency Union #28 created by
Erving, Wendell, Leverett, & Shutesbury
1940: New Salem joins Union #28
1953: Amherst-Pelham Region created by
towns of Amherst & Pelham
1955: Leverett & Shutesbury joined Amherst-
Pelham Region

6

Planning Board

History of Regionalization Discussions
and Initiatives
The four towns participated in regionalization
efforts in…

1968, 1976, 1992, and
2009

7

Planning Board

and Initiatives
1992: Effort involved a year of discussions among
the 4 towns resulting in a proposal to create a K-12
region. Since towns were not yet able under Mass law to
withdraw from Unions, Shutesbury and Leverett were
going to pay other Union #28 towns $300,000 for
permission to leave Superintendency Union #28 (exact
mechanism unclear).
Leverett Town Meeting voted to join the new region;
Shutesbury voted against joining. Effort failed.

8

Planning Board

and Initiatives

2007-2009: Prompted by leadership from
Sen. Rosenberg and Rep. Kulik, the Franklin County
Public Education Study Committee was created in
2007.The 2-year process sought to get ahead of
anticipated forced regionalization by the Commonwealth.
Report to the Committee by NESDEC (New England
School Development Council) in April 2009 offered 3
Models for reconfiguration of districts in Franklin
County – Model #3: “Leverett, Shutesbury to join with
Amherst, Pelham”

9

Planning Board

and Initiatives
2008- 2010: Following NESDEC report and missed
opportunity for regionalization planning grants,
Amherst-Regional School Committee voted to create
4-town Regionalization Study Committee in
December 2008. Final report released in June 2010
reviewed 4 scenarios – Expand Union 26 to include
Leverett and Shutesbury, Expand region to K-12,
Expand region to K-12 but close Pelham
Elementary, and Retain current structure but
increase efficiencies. No action was taken on these
scenarios.

10

Planning Board

and Initiatives
2011-present:
Following ongoing town-based processes in 2010,
Town Meetings of each town created Regional
School District Planning Committees. These
committees began meeting jointly in December
2011.
A Regional School District Planning Board of the
four towns’ committees (consistent with state
guidance) was approved by members in June 2012.

11

Planning Board

Models & Options

• Form a new preK-12 region with all 4 towns
▫ Shutesbury and Leverett withdraw from Union 28,
Union 26 is dissolved, 4 towns create preK-12
region to replace current 7-12 region
• Maintain current 7-12 Region and form a new
preK-6 region with all 4 towns
▫ Shutesbury and Leverett withdraw from Union 28,
Union 26 is dissolved, 4 towns create a new
elementary region, current 7-12 region continues

12

Planning Board

Discussion with Legislators
The Regional School District Planning Board’s (RSDPB)
work is being guided by the following values:
 Be good stewards.
We received good schools from past generations, and take
seriously our responsibility to invest in the future by handing
off good schools to the generations that follow.
 Be fiscally responsible.
Be thoughtful and realistic about cost to the towns, and
understand short and long-term results of any investment.
 Provide ample opportunities for town and
resident input.
 Learn about, respect, and reflect the culture of the
different communities.
 Maintain the best features of current schools;
capitalize on their strengths.

13

Planning Board

Reference Materials
• Massachusetts General Laws & Regulations
• Planning materials from DESE and MA
Association of Regional Schools (M.A.R.S.)
• “Exploring a Regionalization Solution for
Elementary Education in Amherst, Leverett,
Pelham and Shutesbury” – RSDPB flyer

14

Planning Board

Timeline & Process

15

Planning Board

Consultants, Funding & Costs
• Exploration of Regionalization Alternatives to
Current School Structures
• Values Forming Foundation for Deliberations
and Inform Actions
▫ Be good stewards
▫ Be fiscally responsible
▫ Provide for ample time for community input
▫ Respect different community cultures
▫ Preserve what is currently working

16

Planning Board

Consultants, Funding & Costs
• Need for Information and Analysis
▫ Provide information and analysis that will allow Board
to act in harmony with stated values
• Consultants Role
▫ Educational
▫ Financial
• Funding
▫ Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC)
▫ Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG)
▫ Amherst-Pelham Regional School District (APRSD)
▫ DESE grant
▫ Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant

17

Planning Board

Core Issues to be Resolved

• Governance
• Curriculum & Elementary Education Focus
• Valuing Schools as Community Centers

18


Voter Approval to Create New Region Planning Board

October – November 2013

MGL Chapter 71 Section 15

...Said question shall be determined, in a town having an open
town meeting, by vote with printed ballots at an annual or
special town meeting to be held in either case within thirty days
after receipt of such recommendation by the selectmen and, in a
town having a representative town meeting or council, at an
annual or special town election to be held in either case not less
than thirty-five nor more than fifty days after receipt of such
recommendation. The article in the warrant for such annual or
special town meeting or election and the question on the printed
ballots to be used at such meeting or election shall be in
substantially the following form:
Shall the town accept the provisions of sections sixteen to sixteen I, inclusive,
of chapter seventy-one of the General Laws providing for the establishment of
a regional school district, together with the towns of Amherst, and Pelham,
and Leverett, and Shutesbury, and for maintenance and operation of a
regional school by said district in accordance with the provisions of a
proposed agreement filed with the selectmen?

19

Planning Board

Voter Approval to Create New Region
October – November 2013

• Total Costs: approximately $17,500

▫ Amherst: $14,250

▫ Pelham $2,800

▫ Leverett $150

▫ Shutesbury $300

20

Planning Board

Outreach & Communications Plan
• Committee established to ensure focus
▫ Identification of constituencies and
communication opportunities
• Ongoing communications regarding work in
progress
▫ Web site & email
▫ Meeting participation by members of the public
• Individual town communication initiatives using
existing channels
• Series of Four Town public forums

21

Planning Board

Outreach & Communications Plan
• Fall 2012
▫ Flyer with key information
▫ Existing communication avenues in each town
▫ Four Towns Meeting
• February 2013
▫ Public forums to review consultant reports
• March /April 2013
▫ Public forums to review Board recommendation
• September/October 2013
▫ Public forum to review Agreement & Long Range
Plan

22

Planning Board

Next Steps and Closing Remarks

• Working with our town officials
• Research and frame “Core Issues”
• Support and guide consultants
• Secure additional funding
• Engage further with public in all four towns

www.RegionalSchoolPlanning.com

regionalschoolplanningboard@googlegroups.com

Nov 3 2012 presentation

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