[S]TAMFORD — Stamford hasn’t given up its quest for a merged school district across state lines with the Clarksburg (Massachusetts) Elementary School.
But the lengthy and difficult process of gaining the necessary approvals was pushed off track when Clarksburg’s school reconstruction project was defeated by a single vote last month. A revote for the $19 million project is scheduled for Nov. 18. A two-thirds majority is required.
Jonathan Lev, superintendent of the North Berkshire School Union, which includes the Clarksburg district and three other Massachusetts towns, says his district is “kind of stuck in limbo right now.”
Lev said school officials and interested parents from both states have met to discuss the cross-border merger, but the overriding priority in Clarksburg now is getting the school project approved.
“I know Clarksburg is very interested in this, and I know Stamford is,” Lev said. But without an approved renovation project for Clarksburg Elementary, no concrete details of a merger could be worked out between the communities, he said.
The two elementary schools are less than 4 miles apart, and the towns are linked by Route 8.
The Clarksburg school has about 175 students in Grades Kindergarten through 8. Stamford lists an enrollment of about 76 students, also in Grades K through 8. Both districts send high school students primarily to schools in Berkshire County, Massachusetts.
The cross-state merger effort also is unfolding against the backdrop of approaching deadlines under Vermont’s Act 46. Eventually, the State Board of Education will assign districts that haven’t merged.
In May, Stamford residents overwhelmingly rejected a proposed Act 46 merger with the towns of Readsboro and Halifax, along with the Twin Valley School District (Wilmington and Whitingham). All the other districts had approved the plan.
Rep. Laura Sibilia, I-Dover, whose House district includes the town, says residents would prefer to merge with nearby Clarksburg. “I know that Stamford is serious,” Sibilia said.
The Stamford/Clarksburg merger faces “significant” hurdles as it must be approved by both state legislatures and Congress.
Sibilia has introduced a short form bill for the cross-border proposal, which acts as a placeholder and could allow the concept to be taken up in the next legislative session.
Vermont currently has a compact with New Hampshire that allows districts to apply for an interstate district, but no agreements are in place for Massachusetts or New York.
Sen. Brian Campion, D-Bennington, also supports the cross border school merger.
“The bottom line of Act 46 is to make changes that will improve opportunities and outcomes for Vermont students,” Campion said. “There are some areas of the state where we will see a lot of change, other areas little to none.”
The Stamford district will likely have to submit to the state board a proposal for an alternative district under Act 46. The town has missed deadlines for merger tax incentives.
According to the minutes of recent Stamford School Board meetings, the school was not included in September by the State Board of Education on a preliminary list of districts considered geographically isolated. However, an appeal letter was discussed by the local board.
Sibilia has said she believes Stamford is among the most geographically isolated districts in Southern Vermont. While the town is linked by an interstate highway to Massachusetts, there are no paved roads leading directly west to Pownal.
A school district seeking approval for an alternative format has until at least Dec. 26 to file a proposal with the State Board of Education.
