Some of the benefits of having a local elementary school:
Here is a synopsis of why we believe our local elementary schools are essential... even if they're small!
1) Having an elementary school right in town encourages activity within that town.
Events are happening, neighbors are talking, people get to know eachother. This makes our towns vibrant, interesting, more pleasant, and more SAFE.
2) Having an elementary school right in town attracts families with children.
This creates a base population that is invested in the quality and future of the community. These are active families that contribute to committees, town offices, and events.
3) Local elementary schools support the local ECONOMY.
When our towns are active and appealing, we attract productive new residents. These families definitely contribute to the economic vitality of the neighboring community as well as their own town. If our smaller towns have no local elementary, the whole area has less to offer, and those contributing families will find other communities to be a part of.
4) SAFETY: our towns all support eachother for emergency services.
Having vibrant residents in our small towns means a larger and better pool of emergency responders. In our area, it is necessary for our towns to support eachother, with neighboring fire departments or emergency services assisting or covering when needed.
5) The final decision to close a school should always be confirmed by a 2/3 majority district-wide vote, not solely by a 13-member school board.
6) Tax savings? NO!
Most of us are concerned about tax burden, and recognize that our school system is a major part of that. Although taking out an elementary school building seems like it will save cash, there are some serious long term effects:
- Savings will be used to cover other expenses and will not be passed on to taxpayers.
- Families are unlikely to come to a town without an elementary school. Some families will leave.
- Home values will drop in towns that lose their elementary school.
- These losses will mean a drop in the tax base for those towns, shifting the burden of financially supporting the school system to remaining residents, and to other towns
that still have an elementary school.
Hypothetical Example: If Temple elementary school closes, Peterborough residents will pay higher taxes.
If Temple loses their elementary school, current families may move out, and new families are not likely to move in. These families are less likely to move to another other ConVal town like Peterborough, as those housing markets are fairly saturated. Then we lose those family buying dollars in the whole region. And as Temple has fewer residents and fewer students, they pay less into ConVal, causing Peterborough residents to pay more.
IF NOTHING ELSE:
• THIS PLAN IS TOO RISKY! We need a lot more research about the impact on our communities.
• SEND A STRONG MESSAGE to the School Board the want to see alternatives!
• SHOW YOUR SUPPORT for all the residents and the communities as a whole that will be severely impacted by this. They did NOT ask for this solution! It is being forced on them. They deserve a better plan – one that clearly and unquestionably is the best path forward. This plan is NOT that.