RSDPB Receives a Grant

by Lucy Prashker, RSDPB Chair, and Jake Eberwein, Project Manager

The 8 Town Regional School District Planning Board (RSDPB), in partnership with the Berkshire Hills Regional School District and the Southern Berkshire Regional School District, has received a $125,000 Efficiency and Regionalization Grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Community Compact program, one of 17 grants awarded throughout the state. Administered by the state's Division of Local Services, the grant program provides financial support for municipalities and school districts that are exploring regionalization and other efficiency initiatives that allow for long-term sustainability.

The grant will enable the RSDPB to bring to fruition its work in studying the educational and financial feasibility of merging the two South County school districts. In April, the board approved its research team's recommendation that the two districts merge to form a single K-12 regional school district among the eight towns, maintaining all existing elementary and middle schools, but creating a new merged 9-12 high school to be built on the campus of the current Monument Mountain High School. Since then, this model has been the subject of intensive further study and analysis.

"The challenges caused by our county's declining population and enrollment trends in our schools require innovative, comprehensive solutions," said State Representative William "Smitty" Pignatelli. "This grant will support RSDPB in its efforts to meet the challenges of the moment and develop plans that provide the best educational opportunities for our children while benefitting our communities. I look forward to our continued partnership as they continue this critical work."

Over the last two plus years, multiple consultants engaged by the 8 Town RSDPB have developed and presented in-depth reports on topics such as indicators of educational quality, financial implications of a combined district, transportation, Career Vocational Technical Education opportunities, and enrollment trends. There has been extensive community outreach to community members, educators and students, which is ongoing. The grant will support crucial next steps, including the drafting of an 8 Town regional school district agreement and working with community members to create a shared educational vision for the two school districts. The funds will be also used for ongoing project management, additional financial analysis, and legal support,

"This grant will provide the resources needed to allow our volunteer board to finish the study we began close to three years ago — which is to determine whether the districts can do better together than they do apart," said Lucy Prashker, Chair of the RSDPB. "It's a question simple to ask, but complicated to answer. We are targeting February for a board vote on a proposed 8 town regional school district agreement. If approved by the board, the question will then be put to the voters of the 8 towns in the spring of 2023."

Photo: Peter Strauss