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MAUSD committee lays out three consolidation options; New Haven discusses Beeman deed and next steps
Summary
MAUSD Community Engagement Committee presented three school consolidation options to the New Haven Selectboard; the district cited more than 40 position reductions in eight years and said consolidation could reduce building costs. Selectboard members raised deed and reuse questions for Beeman school.
Meredith Rossignol of the MAUSD Community Engagement Committee outlined three options the district is considering to address declining enrollment and operating costs: Option 1—four K–6 schools plus one 7–12 (five schools total); Option 2—two K–5 schools with one 6–12 school (three schools); Option 3—one PreK–2, one 3–5 and one 7–12 (three schools). Rossignol told the Selectboard the district has cut more than 40 positions in the past eight years "without using RIFs" and is looking to reduce taxes by owning fewer buildings.
Selectboard members focused on the fate of Beeman School if it is closed, noting the Beeman deed requires reversion to the original donor if the property ceases to be used for school purposes. Vice Chair Marie Jewett and others queried whether the superintendent’s office or outside educational classes might use Beeman after closure; meeting discussion noted the superintendent could move into Mt. Abe. The Selectboard emphasized that each town must vote separately on closing its school and that Starksboro has signaled it is pursuing removal from MAUSD.
