New information on a potential merger of the Gill-Montague Regional School District and Pioneer Valley Regional School District is expected to be released at some point later this summer or early fall.
However, a definite plan on what the merger may look like, or whether it will even happen, are far from decided, and could be in discussion for a few more years.
The committee that has been researching and exploring possibilities for a merger is still evaluating data and various models for a larger school system, and expects to begin publicly engaging other stakeholder groups later this year, said committee Chair Alan Genovese.
The problem that merging could solve, Genovese said, is that enrollment in both school systems is projected to decline in the long term, making it increasingly difficult to fund new programs that would keep the schools relevant.
“How does a high school support a comprehensive program with a couple hundred kids? If it continues to decline, it’s just not doable,” Genovese said. “I think it’s all the more reason why we’ve got to figure out an economy of scale.”
Regarding the potential for merging, Genovese said, committee members are generally in favor of at least sharing some amount of administrative services between the two districts.
Beyond that, he said, there is no consensus yet on a new model for the schools.
Since beginning its work this winter, the committee is a little more than a half year into a process that is loosely estimated to take two or three years, according to consultants who have been working with the committee.
“At this point it is premature to even consider where we might be leaning,” Genovese said.
The formation of the committee followed a study on the long-term viability of the Gill-Montague and Pioneer districts, which was released in fall 2018.
That study recommended further consideration of merging the two districts, or at least sharing certain services and resources.
This past winter, the new committee on regionalization was formed, with membership from all six towns of the two districts — Montague, Gill, Northfield, Warwick, Bernardston and Leyden.
The new committee’s work was initially supported by the same consultants who had conducted the long-term viability study.
Funded with a state grant, the consultants conducted a new study to evaluate in greater detail various factors of a potential merger.
The report of their study will likely be ready later this summer or fall, and will be presented publicly, Genovese said.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.