WARWICK — Members of the Selectboard and the Warwick Education Committee took another step toward establishing an independent elementary school system in town with the approval of its own school committee structure.
Selectboard Chair Lawrence “Doc” Pruyne and member Todd Dexter approved forming a new school committee structure to govern an independent elementary school at the former Warwick Community School building. Member Brian Snell was not in attendance Monday.
The Pioneer Valley Regional School District School Committee voted last January vote to close Warwick Community School as a cost-saving measure, a decision that Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley approved in May. Warwick students now attend Northfield Elementary School.
Since then, members of the Warwick Education Committee have been holding regular meetings to develop plans with the goal of reopening the Warwick Community School for 2022. According to a recent update in the town newsletter, the plan involves an “innovative educational approach for the town’s modern school building and 25-acre campus.” The curriculum will “emphasize place-based learning and a blend of environmental study and community engagement.”
According to Warwick Education Committee Chair Adam Holloway and Monday’s presented document titled “Draft defining the Warwick School Committee,” the newly designed committee “shall initially consist of nine members to allow for the work needed for start-up.” A “phase-out” process will occur during the subsequent years, bringing the total number of members down to five.
For the initial nine-member school committee structure, the Warwick Education Committee recommends the group consist primarily of people who were actively involved in the redesign meetings and process. This initial committee composition will also include “three members with specific positions” — a member of the Selectboard, a member of the Finance Committee and one member who is a parent of a student in the redesigned school.
The governance structure will include subcommittees and advisory committees, as well as liaison assignments for individual members. Standing subcommittees that continue from year to year will be Budget and Personnel, Policy and Regulation, and Education. These subcommittees are advisory groups to the full school committee.
Currently, Holloway said, the Selectboard has been responsible for making decisions the school committee would normally make. Until the school committee is established, the Warwick Education Committee — which itself is an advisory group — will need to continue seeking the Selectboard’s approval for developments as needed.
In addition to the main school committee, a Governance Advisory Committee made up of seven to 15 members will be developed as a task force to study topics that require extended research. The Governance Advisory Committee might do research on best practice, curriculum goals, significant purchases, student clubs or business topics. According to the school committee draft document, “the Governance Advisory Committee membership will be created via appointments from the school committee, initially and when openings occur.” Terms on this advisory committee will be for one year, July 1 through June 30.
“There is a lot of work that has to be done and to give that to just nine people is a lot, so we put together the advisory committee for people who maybe don’t want to run for office, but want to be involved,” Holloway said, speaking by phone Tuesday morning. “It’s work behind the scenes. … That’s what the advisory committee is for.”
He also noted that time serving on the advisory committee would likely prepare individuals who may be interested in a position on the school committee later.
The Selectboard, the Warwick Education Committee and the Warwick Advisory Committee for Elementary Education will recommend school committee candidates. Then, during the May 2021 town election, all nine positions will be filled following the normal election processes.
Initially, members will have staggered terms of two, three and four years, with re-appointments for three-year terms. The “phase out” process will begin in 2023, with the pairing down from nine to five school committee members. If a majority of the school committee votes to do so, it can recommend the Selectboard delay the phase out process and support re-election of present members.
Officers on the school committee will be chair, vice chair and secretary. Additionally, there will be a treasurer who is not a school committee member. This is a required position for receiving, depositing and releasing school funds. According to the document, Warwick’s town treasurer will be the treasurer for the independent school system.
Holloway said the town aims to complete and submit all required work to establish the independent elementary school to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the fall of 2021.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.