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Lanesborough Names 9-Member Panel To Look At School Affiliation
By Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
11:38PM / Monday, October 27, 2014
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The Board of Selectmen appointed the committee Monday night after delaying the appointments twice before.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen appointed a nine-member committee to take a close look at school affiliation issues.
 
The Selectmen put together the committee in response to a request from School Committee member Robert Barton. Barton has been leading an effort to dissolve the town's agreement with Williamstown to share administrative services and pursue another affiliation.
 
The School Committee is scheduled to vote on withdrawing from the union on Wednesday but it is currently unknown if that will be approved by the state.
 
Meanwhile, Mount Greylock Regional High School officials are asking voters to expand the relationship between the two towns through an expanded district, which also would dissolve the Superintendency Union 71 agreement.
 
The Selectmen say they want to have a committee look into the options as the issue comes to a head. 
 
"The whole idea behind part of this is to be proactive and come up with some relativity good solutions or at least alternative solutions," said Selectman Robert Ericson. "This is an opportunity to get more community feedback from people who are pro and against what is happening."
 
The committee was first eyed to consist of five members but with nine showing interest in what will be an advisory committee tasked with examining the issue, they agreed to appoint them all. The approved members are Regina DiLego, Carole Castonguay, Robert Barton, Jack Hickey, Christine Canning-Wilson, Shari Peltier, Richard Cohen, Ronald Tinkham, and Jennifer DeChaine.
 
"I am hoping from the committee we can get pros and cons," said Selectman Henry "Hank" Sayers.
 
Ericson said he doesn't know if the committee is needed at all. If the School Committee does dissolve the union then the appointed panel's opinion on whether or not to stay is voided. If the voters choose to regionalize, then the new district would be formed, eliminating the union.
 
"I am conflicted on this one. I don't want to unnecessarily create a committee that can't go anywhere," Ericson said.
 
Selectman Henry 'Hank' Sayers hopes the committee will provide information on different affiliation options.
But, Ericson feels the townspeople haven't had enough of a say in the options. This committee gives another opportunity for the townspeople to get their voices heard as the issues continue to be debated.
 
The town had agreed to form SU71 in an attempt to ease the transition for students going from Lanesborough Elementary to Mount Greylock. The agreement, established in 2008,  helped communication so the elementary schools were coordinated in their curriculum.
 
"Lanesborough folks felt they weren't always treated with respect," said resident Richard Cohen, who was part of the committee that formed the union.
 
Lanesborough students weren't prepared for the high school classes while Williamstown students were. The union has improved the preparation and thus more integrated programs, Cohen said.
 
"The communities have really come together," he said.
 
Recently, Barton has been advocating to dissolve the union and join with a larger district. Barton claims the town can save a significant amount of money by joining with a larger district.
 
Town Administrator Paul Sieloff is looking to schedule the committee's first meeting next week. With two School Committee members on the new committee, the School Committee will have to post the meetings to comply with Open Meeting Law.
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