Resident urges against outside strategic-planning firm; district announces Cortaca selection

A resident who identified herself as Carol Dusil Serny told the Bennington Public Schools Board of Education she opposed hiring an outside consultant to develop the district's strategic plan and said she believed district staff and community members already know the district best.

“I really do think we have good people here,” Carol Dusil Serny said during the public forum. “I don't see how an outside firm would be more knowledgeable or passionate about Bennington Public Schools…All this combined with the fact that I didn't see a price tag…makes it hard for me to support doing that.”

Later in the meeting the superintendent reported that the building finance committee had reviewed bids and “ultimately I decided to go with Cortaca as the strategic planning consultant.” The superintendent said staff will work with Cortaca to finalize pricing, timelines and the plan for community involvement and that the district expects to conduct strategic planning sessions over the summer.

Why it matters: strategic plans set priorities that shape curriculum, staffing and capital investments. At the April meeting a public commenter urged the board to rely on district personnel, and district leadership confirmed it selected an out-of-state firm to coordinate the planning process.

Details and next steps: the superintendent said the district will finalize a contract price and timeline with Cortaca and will involve staff, families and community members in the planning process. No contract amount or detailed scope was presented at the April meeting; the superintendent said those items would be finalized in follow-up work.

The board did not take a recorded public vote on the consultant selection at the April meeting; the superintendent described the selection as a decision of the committee and administration.