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Columbia Board votes 7—3 to hire consultant to study regionalization for grades 7—612
Summary
The Columbia Board of Education on June 29 authorized the superintendent to hire an independent consultant, using remaining 2025—2026 funds, to study potential regionalization options for grades 7—612; the study could take 3—5 years and would evaluate educational, financial, operational, governance and community implications.
The Columbia Board of Education on June 29 authorized Superintendent Barbara Wilson to engage an independent educational consultant, using remaining 2025—2026 Board funds, to study potential regionalization options for students in grades 7—612. The motion, moved by Gina Jarvis and seconded by Paul Zator, passed unanimously, 7—3.
Board members said town meetings and resident comments prompted the request for an objective, third-party analysis as the district faces budget pressure. "Feels hiring a third party is appropriate and will provide an unbiased analysis of the information," said Gina Jarvis, a board member who led the motion. Paul Zator added that "a third party will be able to provide information to the public and BOE as well as a cost analysis."
Superintendent Barbara Wilson told the board she has drafted a community survey she will present to the Board for review at the next meeting and that several organizations can conduct feasibility work. Wilson said regionalization typically takes between three and five years and that a study could be completed during the 2026—27 school year. She identified E.O. Smith and RHAM as local examples of regionalized districts and explained that regionalization, if adopted, would include all Columbia high-school students and could eliminate alternate high-school choices for families.
Board members discussed potential configurations (for example, regionalizing grades 7—612 with a neighboring district while keeping lower grades local, or other permutations) and community engagement plans; Stephania Dawiczyk recommended surveying parents and the broader community. Gina Jarvis suggested that if surplus funds remain after contracting for the study, the Board could consider purchasing band equipment.
The motion directs the superintendent to contract with a qualified consultant to evaluate educational, financial, operational, governance and community implications of regionalization and to report findings and recommendations to the Board. The Board did not make any decisions about next steps beyond authorizing the study; the survey will be reviewed at the next Board meeting and the consultant's findings will be provided to the Board when the study is complete.
