Vote to close Readsboro school

To the Editor:
This is to remind Readsboro voters of the upcoming, important vote on closing our school that takes place on Tuesday, March 3. I believe it’s time to admit we are at the end of the road. We have gotten so small, its become a detriment to the students and at the same time, a financial nightmare.
We presently have 37 students in grades pre-k through 6 and the academics reported on the Agency of Education’s website are less than desirable and far less than expected of a school this size. Due to our size, exact numbers are often suppressed for confidentiality, and we are graded on the likes of declining, approaching, meeting, or excelling or suppressed, etc.....I doubt anyone would be happy?
As far as financial data, the administration has determined if we close, the tax rate increases for a resident filer only goes from $1.58 up to $1.76. This increase is equivalent to $180 per every $100,000 assessment. If we vote to remain open, the tax increase for a resident filer only goes from $1.58 up to $2.23. This is equivalent to $650 per every $100,000 assessment.
I’ve followed this state formula for 28 years now and this is by far the highest one-year increase I could ever recall (a 65 cent increase in one year). A note on the increases. In both cases, the board has applied a one-time buy-down of about $47,000 from a reserve fund or each would be even higher. Next year it will only get worse.
Also, for the first time ever, if staying open Readsboro will enter the state’s “penalty box". This was to penalize towns who provided many programs and opportunities at a higher cost to subsidize smaller and poorer type districts in order to provide avenues to offering the same. It was the old “gold town"/"receiving town” concept. It has been in place for 28 years and it essentially penalizes high spending districts (by per-pupil cost) dollar-for-dollar, a penalty to feed the education fund to be redistributed to towns as a form of equality.
But, if we remain open, our cost exceeds the state limit per pupil by $1,378. We would need to be taxed for our $1,378 to operate and another $1,378 per student to contribute to that penalty box. We have, under the weighted pupil count (not actual), 121 students. Thus resident filers ONLY, will be taxed an additional $1,378×121 students, or $167,000, to pay as a penalty.
This penalty, as noted above, was to redistribute to needier districts to help them provide programs, opportunities, and experiences that were unable to be provided in smaller settings. In our case, we don’t have those programs and opportunities, but the penalty pertains solely because we have “empty seats” that drives the cost per student skyrocketing. There is no end in sight. Imagine, we are in this position, but paying added tax money to assist other schools?
With that, I ask voters to support closing our school effective June 30, 2026 and allow our students to choose the options, programs, and opportunities as they wish, expand horizons with their peers, grow, and mature. Please vote “YES” on Article V, Tuesday March 3, at the school from 10 am to 7 pm.
Larry Hopkins
Readsboro