Edith Kinney wants original commitment honored

Former Bridgewater ed board chair provides regional background

To the editor: The Spectrum, Friday, February 9, 2007

As a longtime chairman of the Bridgewater Board of Education, I was part of the board when, in the 1960’s, it became apparent that our agreement with New Milford to send our high school students to New Milford on a tuition basis, for various reasons, was no longer an acceptable choice.
A process began at Bridgewater’s initiative to form a regional high school which initially included the Towns of Bridgewater, Bethlehem, Roxbury, Sherman, and Washington. As the process evolved, it changed to include only Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington and at the state’s encouragement, to be a K-12 region.
It quickly became apparent that, in order to get voters’ approval of a regional plan, they had to be assured that the primary schools would remain in their own towns. The promise was made and so far has been kept.
I strongly feel this commitment should be maintained. Do not build a consolidated school.
Edith Kinney
Bridgewater