After reading the Recorder’s Sept. 9 news article regarding Pioneer’s vision for the new school year and beyond, I am more convinced than ever that the move to regionalize with Gill-Montague would be a mistake. An educationally sound and fiscally responsible budget was approved by the district’s towns in the spring. That budget cut no direct services to students, cut no athletics and no extracurricular activities.
The article outlined Pioneer’s many initiatives designed to promote broader student opportunities and realize an increase in both district and out-of-district tuition students. Out-of-district students boost revenues as well as enrollment, revenues which help to offset the towns’ fiscal responsibilities.
In its promotional materials, the regionalization proposal is “intended to address educational and financial challenges created by declining enrollment while offering broader opportunities for students.”
As a Bernardston resident, I feel strongly that the Pioneer Valley Regional School District is currently providing that and more (no unnecessarily long bus rides!).
As a longtime educator in the area, I urge you to vote ‘no’ on the regional proposal on Oct. 6.
Patricia Bassett Szulborski, retired superintendent, Franklin County Technical School
Bernardston