The report done by Sen. Adam Hinds and Rep. Natalie Blais on the Special Commission on Rural School Districts and Auditor Suzanne Bump’s recent report on rural infrastructure needs are the most researched, factual, eye-opening, informative report on state funding of rural schools and towns.
Unfortunately, as presented in a July 13 Recorder story by Matt Martinez of the Berkshire Eagle, we are seen as once again begging, “please sir, more” when the report pointed out the great inequities in funding compared to the state’s generosity east of Route 495.
This subject warrants more public attention to details. For example, a recognition of ‘dis-economies of scale” in our area is addressed. Does anyone remember when we were told to regionalize to achieve ‘economy of scale’?
Franklin County, the poorest county, is 1% of the state population. Easy enough to ignore but where is the intellectual curiosity about the various anomalies here?
Marguerite Willis
Charlemont