Residents of Bernardston, Gill, Leyden, Montague, Northfield, and Warwick will have an opportunity on Oct. 6 to vote on the proposed Great River Regional School District (GRRSD).

After seven years of study, public meetings, financial analysis, and community engagement, the Six-Town Regionalization Planning Board has recommended the creation of the Great River Regional School District. The proposal is intended to address long-term challenges facing our schools, including declining enrollment, rising costs, and the difficulty of sustaining programs and services across multiple districts.

The proposed plan would maintain local elementary schools while creating larger enrollments at the middle school and high school levels so students will receive a more robust and comprehensive education.

The GRRSD plan includes provisions addressing governance, transportation, finances, representation for participating towns, and more. Whether residents ultimately support or oppose the proposal, it is important that everyone has access to accurate information and understands the potential opportunities this change would provide for the students from all of our towns.

I encourage community members to review the available materials on the 6towns.org website and attend informational sessions in your town: Leyden: Thursday, Sept. 17 at the Leyden Town Offices; Northfield: Monday, Sept. 21 at Dickinson Memorial Library; Gill/Montague: Tuesday, Sept. 22 at the Turners Falls High School Auditorium; Bernardston: Wednesday, Sept. 23 at the Bernardston Senior Center; Warwick: Thursday, Sept. 24 at Warwick Town Hall.

All meetings begin at 6 p.m. These informational sessions are open to the public. If residents are unable to attend the one scheduled in their community, they are encouraged to attend others.

Please vote on Oct. 6. Polling hours are from noon to 8 p.m. There are two special elections happening on this date: The local election on regionalization and the Franklin County Technical School District-wide election.

An informed community is essential to making thoughtful decisions about the future of our schools and towns.

Michele Giarusso, STRPB member, Leyden Town Coordinator, PVRSD School Committee member

Leyden