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Residents and some commissioners urge POCD to include language to study school regionalization
Summary
A June 8 letter and public comments asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to add language recommending study of school regionalization and creation of a bipartisan stakeholder committee to support grant eligibility; commissioners and the planner agreed to consider adding the language to a redlined POCD.
A letter from resident Rhonda Kincaid urging the inclusion of school regionalization language in the 2026 Plan of Conservation and Development was read into the record by Chairman J. Riendeau during the June 8 meeting. Kincaid suggested acknowledging budget challenges and adding a recommendation that the Town "explore whether school regionalize could maintain education quality at lower cost," plus forming a bipartisan committee to study the issue and support future grant applications.
Two other residents, Pat Shimchick and Anne Dunnack, voiced support for adding regionalization language, saying it could help secure grants and keep options open. Commissioner Nancy Hammarstrom and Chairman Riendeau also expressed support for including study language; Riendeau emphasized that POCD inclusion would not create an immediate legal obligation but would keep the option available. Town Planner John Guszkowski agreed to add regionalization-related recommendations to the redlined draft to be returned to the Commission for final consideration.
Commission discussion noted that other Town bodies, including the Board of Education, had not been informed of the late regionalization suggestion and may wish to review any changes; Commissioner N. Ferris recommended notifying those bodies. The Commission voted to close the public hearing and table final adoption pending the redlined POCD.
