BRISTOL — The Addison Northeast Supervisory Union Act 46 Study Committee next week will host a series of information sessions on the proposal to unify governance and budgeting at all ANeSU schools. The proposal will be up for a vote on Election Day in Bristol, New Haven, Monkton, Starksboro and Lincoln.
The study committee urges all residents to come out and learn more about the unification proposal that will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Each information session will include a brief presentation followed by an open question-and-answer period. School board members, Act 46 Study Committee members, and ANeSU administration staff will be on hand to answer questions.
There will be one information session in each of the five ANeSU towns:
•  Bristol: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 5:30  p.m., Holley Hall.
•  Lincoln: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 6:30  p.m., Burnham Hall.
•  Starksboro: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 7 p.m., Robinson Elementary multi-purpose room.
•  New Haven: Wednesday, Nov. 2, 7 p.m., New Haven Town Hall.
•  Monkton: Thursday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m., Monkton Central School gym.
The unification proposal recommends ANeSU schools become one supervisory district, with one school board and one budget for all ANeSU schools. Advocates for the plan make the case that unification supports many initiatives already under way, and allows teachers and administrators to focus more time on teaching and learning. In addition, unification continues important progress in consolidating many expenses across the supervisory union, and allows us to take advantage of tax and financial savings available to districts that voluntarily merge.
Some members of the committee who wrote an minority report argue that a different approach should be taken to improve education and treat taxpayers more fairly.
The unification proposal is the result of many months of deliberations of a study committee formed from representatives of all five towns in ANeSU. The complete report of the committee can be found here.
Residents are urged to bring questions to an information session next week. Comments or questions can also be emailed to [email protected]