[V]oters in Bethel and Royalton said yes to merging their two school districts just in time to qualify for tax incentives. The deadline is Nov. 30.
On Tuesday voters in both towns overwhelmingly supported the idea of combining their districts into one under the provisions of Act 46, the 2015 law calling for such moves in the interest of efficiencies and expanded educational opportunities.
Beginning next fall, Bethel and Royalton students will stay in their respective towns for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, then attend grades six through eight in Bethel and high school in South Royalton.
In Royalton the vote was 419-82 in favor, while Bethel backed the proposal 284-36, according to the town clerk’s office in Royalton, where they were framed as unofficial counts.
The two towns have been through the wringer with numerous votes on Act 46 mergers since April as they tried to come up with a configuration the people wanted.
Lisa Floyd, a member of the Bethel School Board and Act 46 study group, said she is ready to start working on the next steps.
“It means a lot to me to be able to begin to turn planning and curricular work over to teachers and our school communities in order to be ready to open our doors next fall,” Floyd said.
The new White River Unified School District comes into being July 1.
A third town, Rochester, had once been part of merger plans with Bethel and Royalton. Last week the State Board of Education approved a proposal for it to combine with Stockbridge. That plan is also looking to get under the tax-related Nov. 30 deadline for voter approval.
