As you are aware, there was a petition submitted to initiate a vote to close our school. There were 41 signatures, representing a cross-section of residents.
Just because they signed does not mean they are voting to close — though there are people with their minds already made, remain adamant in their initial thoughts, and keep a closed mind to new information.
We have experienced over the last few years some significant negative situations and need answers to find where our students presently sit in their recovery in terms of academic success.
Items of note:
1) We saw an apparent change in educational philosophies and priorities just prior to the Act 46 merger, and hoped the merger might get us back on track. It did not.
2) We were officially notified by the Agency of Education that we tested in the bottom 5% of the state and were required to be put on a school improvement plan, approved and funded by the state. This plan was extended one year due to Clovid. According to reports, expires June 30, 2023.
3) We entered and created the Southern Valley Unified Union School.
4) Due to our unwavering philosophies and financial burden, Halifax initiated a divorce of our Act 46 merger after two years.
5) At the hearing, the State Board of Education inquired on the sustainability of Readsboro’s smaller system, but legislative wording omissions left no option but to approve (since revisited).
6) With these hurdles to overcome, we now had accompanying Covid issues, adding more disadvantages.
7) Since September, our school board has listed open jobs on its agendas and several key jobs remain unfilled for the whole year and there are always between four and seven openings.
8) There is a continued need to hire key positions (teacher, a coach to comply with state improvement requirements, a and a clinician and guidance counselor are noteworthy).
9) From September 2021 until January 2023 (13 months of school), Readsboro has needed to spend $30,000 in substitutes (often not certified). At an average of $100 a day, that’s 300 days of filling in for either teachers out of class or backfilling vacant positions requiring certification — not good. Is this solvable going forward?
10) Due to staffing, the board had to discontinue providing 3-year-old pre-K, but continued to support it financially.
11) Due to staffing, the board set up two classes of three grade levels in each (1-2-3 and 4-5-6).
12) Parents have voiced and written numerous complaints of not receiving proper services, and of discipline, bullying and assaults (both concerning student-to-student and teacher-to-student).
Now that the school improvement plan will be expiring, the claim that Covid is over and the state resumed its testing at the end of 2022, it is believed to be an appropriate time to determine (with verification) where our school now stands. We have an obligation to provide our students with the best possible options, programs and opportunities in order to prepare them for future success.
Hopefully, the school board, parents and all residents will be provided verifiable answers to the concerns, giving all voters the tools to determine what is in the best interest of the children of Readsboro. If the analysis and answers show there are better options out there, then a vote will determine if they warrant a change, and if it shows Readsboro is in the same boat as the surrounding options (within reason), and there is no academic benefit to close, then the vote should reflect that also.
I hope the information is forthcoming, truthful and presented in an unbiased manner in order to resolve the issue and not be a cause to drag it out even further. We need positive stability and move forward with what’s best for the students.
Larry Hopkins
Readsboro
