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A standing-room-only crowd is expected at the Connecticut State Capitol on Friday, March 1 to urge Gov. Ned Lamont and other lawmakers to further evaluate proposals to consolidate school districts.
Hundreds of written complaints in opposition of the plan were sent to the governor’s office, and there was reportedly a line of concerned parents at the Capitol ready to speak well in advance of the 1 p.m. Education Committee of the General Assembly.
The bills, if approved, would create a commission charged with developing a plan to consolidate districts in communities with less than 40,000 people. The bill reportedly is “to create a more efficient educational system.”
Two other similar bills have also been introduced in an effort to eliminate smaller school districts in an effort to limit state spending as Connecticut faces a financial crisis.
If approved, the bills could become effective as of July 2021, though it hasn’t garnered wide-sweeping support from local residents or elected officials. It could potentially impact several Fairfield County school districts and communities.
The consolidation proposals have drawn the ire of parents, local and state officials.
The Republican Town Committee and Democratic Town Committee both vehemently opposed the proposal, with the former stating that “the proposal would seriously jeopardize Wilton’s reputation for high-quality, locally controlled education,” the committee wrote in a statement. “Other serious consequences for Wilton, known and unknown, would no doubt follow.”
This is a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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