Front Porch Forum
#5432
Cindy shared her unanswered questions.
#5437
Ross observed the lack of detail, the absence of concrete plan showing benefits of closure, and the vagueness of “improved programming.”
#5438
Suzy reflected on her elementary school experience, and the root cause of our challenge being state-level education funding decisions. She explained we need to think about how are schools are part of the structure of our communities and cultures.
#5440
Anthony shared his family’s perspective relocating to East Calais and the value he sought in having a small school where every child is known, and the intangible benefits that Calais Elementary offers – community strength, student confidence, and a lasting sense of belonging.
#5441
Sonja called out the attempted re-branding of school closure to “multi-town school” as if there is mutuality in the decision.
Charlotte proposed exploration of alternatives, such as pre-K to 3 students attending Calais and 4-6 students attending East Montpelier, and asked why this was not a workable alternative to a full closure?
Anthony gave us a delightful Haiku (with more to come!)
#5442
Paul asked about the potential change to demographics, and what we would do if the school has already been closed, and the building sold to the town.
Anthony published a second Haiku.
#5444
Katie expressed the feeling that we have little to no new information since 2024 and have been presented the same plan. She shared her experience with the benefits of small schools as someone who works in them. She identified that the Board’s survey asked less about whether we want consolidation and more about how it could be accomplished. Finally, she identified the need for a much more responsive approach and a longer period of time to make such a big decision.
#5446
Richard suggested the district explore through a feasibility study bringing out-of-district placements back to their home schools. Based on his extensive experience working in special education, he has concluded our students get better services at home than when they are sent away from their communities.
We received Anthony’s third Haiku to Calais Elementary.
#5447
In response to a school board member’s post criticizing the opposition the plan has received, Suzy invited the Configuration Committee to consider that the town had already repeatedly expressed opposition to this plan.
Cole shared a similar view, and that he felt we are being railroaded again. He pointed out that while we have an aging population, we don’t have retired people moving to Calais, but we do have young families moving to town.
Sophie shared a summary of the 90+ responses to the Board’s survey, finding that a strong majority of respondents opposed closure of Calais and Doty, as well as moving 6th graders to U-32. Concerns raised included long bus rides, safety and access issues for working families, loss of small-school strengths, community impact, and lack of evidence showing improved programming, better outcomes, or even savings.
#5448
Also in response to a board member’s post, Sonja provided an analogy to the revived school closure proposal. Imagine turning in an assignment, having it handed back and being told “start over” because the work doesn’t meet the assignment, and then turning in the exact same paper.
Did I miss your post? Please let me know, and I will add a summary and a link!