HEATH — The Selectboard heard from Mohawk Trail Regional School District School Committee and Two Districts, Eight Towns (2D8T) Steering Committee member Budge Litchfield this week about the status of the sustainability study, and how Heath is in an interesting position when compared to Mohawk Trail’s seven other member towns.
In a document provided to the Selectboard at Tuesday’s meeting, Litchfield wrote, “I am, at this point, quite concerned that additional thoughts need to be explored, and additional questions answered so we don’t find ourselves without support from towns.”
In the spring of 2025, the Two Districts, Eight Towns (2D8T) Steering Committee voted to pursue an aspirational goal of consolidating all students in the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont regional school districts onto a single campus at the Mohawk Trail Regional School site in Buckland, which would result in elementary school closures.
Saying that, “if the vote on [the single-campus model] fails, we still need to make a change,” Litchfield brought up the fact that roughly one-third (16) of Heath’s elementary-age students use School Choice to attend Rowe Elementary School, given that Heath no longer has its own elementary school. Litchfield said that if the single-campus model ultimately passes, he believes more families would rather School Choice their young children to Rowe, versus the alternative, which would see Heath children with long commutes to the newly built single campus in Buckland.
“How do we start talking very soon with the families that have small children?” Selectboard Chair Robyn Provost said. “I want people to be brutally honest … tell us the truth. How do we have these conversations?”
One idea that Litchfield had came after his visit to the Gateway Regional School District in Huntington, which recently consolidated, though not to a single campus. Gateway now has three schools in operation, with two schools for preschool through fifth grade, and one campus that runs from sixth grade through 12th.
Litchfield said something he has been thinking about was creating a similar system, with a west, south and central campus, in the event that voters defeat the single-campus proposal, though he added these “are just thoughts and ideas.”
When discussing how to get young families informed about the issues, Selectboard member Will Emmet mentioned that getting a booth at the upcoming Heath Fair could be helpful, with Litchfield saying he “would be all in favor of that.”
“More people need to become as informed as possible,” Litchfield added.
According to the 2D8T Steering Committee, a vote is expected to occur within the next six to nine months, which would determine whether Mohawk Trail can appropriate funding to explore educational programming, site and building options, project costs and potential design concepts. Litchfield said that after the 2D8T Steering Committee’s July 25 meeting, members should have a better idea of the timeline.
“I would hope that people were interested to see what the next step [is],” Provost said.
