MANCHESTER — A citizen group’s proposal to have the private Burr and Burton Academy assume operations of the Manchester Elementary Middle School has been rejected.
A statement issued Thursday by BBA board of trustees Chairman Seth Bongartz and Headmaster Mark Tashjian said in part: “While we would always give respectful consideration to a request from one of the communities we do not envision being able to support a change of this magnitude at this time, given our current focus.”
The statement came as a group of Manchester residents ramped up a petition campaign for a referendum question on the March town ballot. The BBA option study group plans an informational forum on the idea on Nov. 1 at the Manchester Community Library and has begun gathering voter signatures.
Brian Vogel, a spokesman for the group, said Thursday night that the forum will go on as scheduled, and the effort to place a question on the ballot will as well.
“This is not something we want to give up on,” he said.
He said Burr and Burton officials have expressed concerns about the effects of proposed new state requirements involving private schools. Because of the current uncertainty, Vogel said, “we really want people to understand what is going on,” and he believes the referendum process will allow that.
The situation also could change in this area, or at the state level, by March, Vogel said, contending the option his group proposes should be kept on the table.
In the release, Bongartz and Tashjian state further: “Burr and Burton Academy (BBA) is aware of an effort by some members of the local community to assess the feasibility of BBA taking over Manchester Elementary & Middle School (MEMS). BBA remains committed to maintaining and enhancing our exceptional high school program, which serves students in Manchester and 12 other towns in the region. We have been closely following the work of local Act 46 study committees, including the Northshire Merger Study Committee, and appreciate the fact that all of these study committees are committed to preserving school choice and access to independent schools, including BBA.
“At this time, our efforts are focused on protecting BBA’s status as an independent school, specifically in view of new rules proposed by the State Board of Education, which would have a devastating impact on BBA and other independent schools. While we would always give respectful consideration to a request from one of the communities we do not envision being able to support a change of this magnitude at this time, given our current focus.”
Jon Wilson, chairman of the Northshire Merger Study Committee, who had noted some negative impacts, particularly concerning lost tax break incentives through Act 46 for towns involved in the merger process if Manchester rejected the proposal in favor of an agreement with BBA, issued a statement following the BBA announcement.
“We appreciate that Burr and Burton has clarified their position on this issue,” he said. “BBA has been, and will continue to be a partner in helping our committee successfully explore merger.”
Wilson added, “The Northshire committee has worked hard all summer and fall to develop recommendations intended to be best for all of our kids across all of our districts. The vast majority of our recommendations have already been shaped. Our meetings are public, warm, and welcoming. I encourage all community members to engage in this very democratic and transparent process. We have held a series of forums and will hold another public forum at the Manchester Community Library at 6 p.m. on Nov. 3.”
Vogel, a former Manchester Elementary Middle School board member, said his group’s goal is to promote the BBA option as an alternative to a school district consolidation proposal for grades kindergarten through 8 being developed by the Northshire Merger Study Group. That plan, which is expected to go before voters during the annual March election, would merge nine town school districts for students in the elementary and middle grades.
Supervision would be provided by a new 13-member regional board. School choice at the high school level would remain as it is today. Burr and Burton Academy is the most often selected high school among area towns.
Vogel and his group contend having Burr and Burton expand to educate elementary and middle school students would be a better alternative for Manchester.
They said the public MEMS is overseen by a five-member local board, but a regional board with a proposed 13 members from nine area towns — as in the Northshire Merger Study Group proposal — would mean Manchester’s control over the education of K-8 students would be diminished.
