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Consultants present options to address Region 4’s falling enrollment and underused schools
Summary
Cooperative Educational Services told the joint boards of Chester, Deep River and Essex that declining enrollment has left some school buildings at roughly half capacity and presented several viable grade‑configuration options; leaders pressed for more detailed cost, special‑education and facility analyses before any decisions.
Consultants from Cooperative Educational Services outlined the scope and findings of a district study, telling the joint boards of Chester, Deep River and Essex that enrollment declines have left multiple buildings operating at roughly 50% of core classroom capacity.
"We are here to present an objective view of status and possibilities," said Chip Dumas, executive director of Cooperative Educational Services, introducing a set of configuration options and the research methods behind the report. Dr. Luke Forshaw, director of professional development services, said the team compared Region 4 to demographically similar districts and used current enrollment and a recent demographic projection through 2030 to inform scenarios.
The presenters emphasized the work is a first, high‑level phase. "There is no quick fix," Dumas said, adding that even the simplest path forward would likely take more than two years and that governance choices and statutory processes will strongly affect timelines. The consultants described a multi‑phase engagement in which the district can decide whether to proceed to deeper cost‑benefit and facilities master planning.
Board members and residents acknowledged the presentation as a useful start but repeatedly asked for the detailed data — especially the formulas used to calculate building capacity and the underlying enrollment projections — before any policy moves. "We used current enrollment and referenced a demographic study through 2030," Forshaw said, but he acknowledged many of the granular operational questions (special‑education placements, cafeteria and gym capacity, and other shared spaces) require a second, more detailed level of analysis.
The consultants said viable options will be brought forward for more granular study, while the joint board and town leaders will decide next steps and whether to empower a smaller subcommittee to examine implementation details.
