Readsboro School is part of a community

To the editor:

With the upcoming vote about our school’s future, I’ve been reflecting a lot, and I wanted to share some thoughts.I respect that many people are voting based on financial concerns and the tax burden — those realities matter, and I understand why they guide people’s decisions. I will not debate those points, they are valid.

For me, I will be voting to keep our school open because I believe deeply in the value of small class sizes and the ability to truly nurture children as individuals. Our school isn’t just a place of instruction; it’s a place where kids are known, cared for, and supported in meaningful ways. A school is a part of a community and I fear what this community may lose without its school.

I recognize that the larger education system has many challenges and, in many ways, feels like it is failing our kids. When that is the case, what I can control is choosing this kind of setting for my own children — one that prioritizes relationships, belonging, and individualized attention.

I’ve seen how much my own children have flourished here. The close relationships with teachers, the sense of safety, and the personalized support simply can’t be replicated in a larger setting.In a perfect world, I’d love to invest in a new building and remain a true micro school while also finding creative ways to welcome more families into our town. I also think a feasibility study would help us better understand our options and possibilities moving forward.

Even at our surrounding “small” schools, teachers are so overburdened with meeting benchmarks and teaching to the test that much of the human connection that brings people to teaching is lost.Ultimately, my vote is about protecting a learning environment that centers care, connection, and children — the heart of what education should be.However you plan to vote, I appreciate that we all care about our kids and our community. I just wanted to share my perspective.