As voters across Vermont wrestled with votes on rising school budgets, Cabot voters were also — for the fourth time in 11 years — considering the future of their high school.
By a 367-239 margin, residents voted to keep the school open, rejecting a petitioned article that would have forced it to close, according to preliminary results.
Proponents of the measure said they wanted more choices for Cabot’s students.
But its failure comes as a sigh of relief for school officials. Both the school board and Caledonia Central Supervisory Union Superintendent Mark Tucker opposed the binding measure, saying the consequences would have been costly.
According to projections from the supervisory union, closing the high school and offering school choice would have added around $300,000 to $500,000 per year to the annual budget.
In addition to the high school choice, Cabot residents voted 335-263 in favor of the proposed school budget of $4.49 million, a 24% increase.
K. Fiegenbaum contributed reporting.
