On September 24, 2014

Community meetings will explore elementary school options

First forum held Sept. 30 in Bridgewater

WOODSTOCK—More than a year ago, members of the school boards in Bridgewater, Pomfret and Woodstock formed a joint committee to study existing models of providing elementary education in each town and to seek out potential alternatives. The joint committee now invites parents, taxpayers and citizens from these towns to one of the community forums slated for the end of September and early October to hear about and provide input on the committee’s ideas.

“Several scenarios were developed and considered,” said Vermont School Board Association consultant John Everitt, who has worked with the committee for the past year. “Out of this process the committee is recommending to form a joint contract between the towns, which will then pursue future options.”

Everitt said that the downward enrollment trend in these towns puts pressure on the resources for the schools and directly affects the scope of educational opportunities for students, such as music, art and physical education, or special items such as computer labs, a full-time principal or even a school nurse for more than one morning a week.

Everitt said the joint committee sees great opportunity in its ideas, which most importantly will enhance the students’ educational experiences. The committee will discuss its ideas in more detail, answer questions and begin an open conversation about what the future holds for education in these three towns.

Anyone from any of the towns is welcome to attend the forums. Members of each town’s school board will be present at each meeting. All meetings will be held at 7 p.m.

Dates are: Sept. 30 at Bridgewater Village School; Oct. 6 at Woodstock Elementary School; and Oct. 7 at The Pomfret School.

The committee is working on informational documents and a website that will house these documents for public viewing. They hope the website will go live in early October.

For more information, contact Everitt at [email protected].

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Pride in Rutland: Flags, resistance, and showing up

June 25, 2025
By Emily Pratt Slatin Pride returned to downtown Rutland this June with more color, noise, and purpose than ever before. What began as a joyful celebration quickly became something deeper—something that felt like resistance. And belonging. And a promise that no one in this community has to stand alone. The day kicked off with the…

Plan to manage 72,000 acres of the Telephone Gap project is finalized

June 25, 2025
Staff report The U.S. Forest Service issued its final plan for managing 72,000 acres of public and private land on June 16. The proposed Telephone Gap Integrated Resource Project area is located on the Green Mountain National Forest (GMNF) within the towns of Brandon, Chittenden, Goshen, Killington, Mendon, Pittsfield, Pittsford, and Stockbridge. “The Telephone Gap project is…

Hot air balloons took flight over Quechee

June 25, 2025
By James Kent This past weekend, June 21-22, people came from all over New England to participate in the 45th annual Hot Air Balloon Festival. Music, food, games, and fun were available for all ages throughout the weekend, but the main attraction was the hot air balloons. And for those looking to see these gigantic,…

Killington residents push for skate park as town reimagines recreation future 

June 25, 2025
By Greta Solsaa/VTDigger As Killington celebrates the 50th anniversary of its recreation center, some residents are pushing to make a skate park a new permanent fixture of the town’s summer offerings.  The town crafted its recreation master plan to holistically determine how to best use its resources to serve residents in the future, Recreation Department Director Emily Hudson…