Bridgewater Voter Rights Letter by J Ronan

Bridgewater residents should have voters rights

Newstimes

Updated: 01/21/2009 10:44:31 PM EST


To the Editor:

This is why Judge Pickard's decision on the Region 12 vs. Bridgewater should be reversed on appeal.

It is a "Voters Rights" issue not a "Replacement of Buildings" issue.

The first referendum to form Region 12 in 1967 failed. The towns did not approve the temporary regional school study committee plan.

The committee went back to work and addressed the concerns of the residents by adding the following to the plan:

"Elementary grades K-5 to remain in their present home town schools." The original 1967 approved plan is posted on the District 12 Web site.

The second referendum was worded:

"Shall the town of Bridgewater join with the following named towns of Roxbury, Washington, in the establishment of a regional school district with schools located in the towns of Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington, for the purpose of providing the necessary facilities and administering grades K through 12 of public schools."

This referendum was approved by the voters in each of the towns as required and Region 12 was established by the state Board of Education.

If the voters in Bridgewater in 1967 knew that a judge could override their vote in 2008 and rule that Region 12 could "Close their local school" or have "No school" in Bridgewater, then they would have voted no.

Judge Pickard used the 1975 legal action brought against District 15 as the basis of his decision.

In this case, District 15 replaced its high school in Southbury with a new building at another site in Southbury.

The old high school became the Middle School and no schools were closed in Southbury or Middlebury.

This is obviously a "Replacement of Buildings" issue and does not fit the situation in Region 12.

Region 12 is a "Voters Rights" issue.

The residents of the town of Bridgewater must have the right to approve the closing of their local school and approve having no school in Bridgewater, as outlined in section 10-47c of the state education department statutes.

Jerry Ronan

Bridgewater