Education is more important than buildings

Education is more important than buildings

NewsTimes.com

Article Last Updated: 05/16/2008 09:34:33 AM EDT

To the Editor:

Region 12 has endured countless difficulties as it tries to resolve problems with its elementary facilities.

It's been a great opportunity to be a "life-long learner," something Region 12's students are taught to become.

It's been frustrating, time consuming and corrosive. For those who care deeply about the education of our children, finding a solution to this thorny matter is worth the effort.

Concentrating on excellent education, rather than wetlands and reimbursement, will be a welcome relief.

Bridgewater's Town Meeting recommending exploring de-regionalization is more disturbing than any building issue yet.

School regions form to share resources. Some local autonomy is given up. That's a worthwhile trade for towns as small as ours.

Our daughter started kindergarten 20 years ago, my husband served one term on the Board of Ed from 1991-1995; I'm a board member since 1997.

There have been conundrums, crises and calamities, but many more resounding triumphs. Prior to the buildings' debacle, this three-town school region got along very well.

We solved our differences, then gathered at games and functions and congratulated each other on what great kids we have. We took pride in our schools. What town we lived in didn't much matter. Our kids are the only people left with a grasp on the ideal of teamwork.

The "D-word" is phenomenally time consuming, expensive, and intentionally difficult to achieve by law. The ultimate losers will be our children. Their education is bound to suffer.

How can we consider even partly dissolving what has been a successful district for 40 years over buildings? Cure worse than disease; tail wags dog.

We should convene a forum on how to reunite the Region 12 community. Use our resources to make it better, instead of rip it apart.

Buildings are just buildings. We must save our children's education.

Irene Allan
Washington CT

Blog Editor Notes:

1. The most important "difficulty" the Region 12 board has had is understanding that 80% of Bridgewater, 65% of Roxbury and 35% of Washinton voters said "No"
to consolidation in 2006. This means don't "close" our local schools.

2. Those who "care deeply " about education will review the elementary student achievement on the CMT scores for 2006/07 and find that current progam is excelling.

3. Giving up "some autonomy" does not mean "closing" the local school. If keeping the Burnham school "open" requires de-regionalization, then that will undoubtedly happen.

4. Being a board member since 1997 indicates being in a third term. It is time for the board to set "term limits". The maximum should be two (2) terms or eight (8) years.