Editor’s note: This article is by Lisa McCormack of the Stowe Reporter, in which it was first published Feb. 19, 2015.
The Elmore and Morristown school boards are looking at merging their school districts.
Both towns will consider the idea at their annual town meetings in March. If residents support the idea, a formal study could begin on what a merged district would look like and how school property taxes would be affected.
Elmore has a tiny school with about 20 students in grades 1-3. Now, students in kindergarten and grades 4 and 5 attend Morristown Elementary School. Students in grades 6-12 have school choice.
The merger idea came up after Elmore voters rejected the 2014-15 school budget proposal last March. In June, they decided to pass the same exact budget.
When surveyed, a majority of Elmore voters said they wanted the school board to address escalating school property taxes. The tax rate is up $2.50 per $1,000 of property value for this school year, and rose $1.50 the previous year.
Elmore, Morristown and Stowe make up the Lamoille South Supervisory Union, a regional administrative group.
In the Elmore survey, most people favored exploring a merger with Morristown as a possible solution. Elmore can’t merge with the Stowe because Stowe’s buildings don’t have enough room.
A merged district could lower the homestead education tax rate and “provide the systemic stability needed to keep the Elmore School open and strong longer than Elmore could do on its own,” Wrend said.
Even if Elmore were to lose its state-funded small-school grant as a result of the merger, education property taxes would be reduced by $2.90 per $1,000 of property value, based on current spending projections, according to Wrend.
Meanwhile, taxes in Morristown would increase by 15 cents per $1,000 of value.
A merger would also give Elmore citizens more local control of the education of students outside of first through third grade.
The Elmore School Board can make decisions only regarding students who attend the one-room Elmore School. School boards in other towns make decisions about the schools in their districts.
It’s unclear whether Elmore would retain school choice for middle and high school students if a merger occurred.
For Morristown, which has 93 Elmore students enrolled this school year, a merger could prevent a loss in revenue resulting from those students deciding to attend school elsewhere, Wrend said.
It could also help stabilize enrollment and the education tax rate, she said.
Information sessions about the proposed merger will be held Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 7 p.m. at Morristown Elementary School and Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 6 p.m. at the Elmore Town Hall. There will also be presentations in both towns on Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 3.
