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Advisory consolidation measure for Salisbury and Webster elementary schools defeated
Summary
An advisory petition asking the board to pursue consolidation of Salisbury and Webster elementary grades into a single facility was defeated; petitioners cited potential efficiency while opponents and studies cited capacity, construction costs and impacts on students and bus time.
Voters defeated a petitioned, advisory article that would have authorized the school board to update the district charter and pursue consolidating Salisbury and Webster elementary schools beginning with the 2027-28 school year.
Lead petitioner Lauren Martin, a former board member, said studies had examined consolidation options and she sought a community vote so all residents could weigh in. "We brought this forward so it could be heard by all voters," Martin said.
Legal counsel Jim O'Shaughnessy advised the meeting that the article was advisory and nonbinding and that any change to the district's articles of agreement would require following the formal amendment process. Residents raised concerns about capacity, construction costs (one presenter cited multi-million-dollar renovation figures) and longer bus rides; some speakers urged more detailed cost-benefit analysis before structural consolidation.
After extended discussion and a motion to move the question, the advisory consolidation article failed (the nays have it).
