A Town Hall Meeting With Our State Representatives

The New Canaan RTC presents a non-partisan discussion on forced regional school consolidation.

With Tom O’Dea and Gail Lavielle

Come & Share Your Questions or Concerns

WHAT IS IT?
Senate Bills #457 & 738 “An Act Concerning the Creation of Regional School Districts” was proposed by state Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) and Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Darien & Norwalk). The Bills’ purpose is to “create a more efficient educational system.” The Bills as written would mandate that school districts consolidate.

· School districts in municipalities with populations of less than 40,000 would be required to consolidate with other districts to form regional districts. Sen. Duff’s bill states that any town with a student population of less than 2,000 would be required to consolidate.
· A statewide plan for the regional consolidations would be developed by a commission created by the Bills. If this plan is not to be approved by the legislature by July 1, 2020, the plan would go into effect anyway for the 2021-2022 school year.
· School employee unions from two or more consolidating districts would either form a regional coalition or a new regional collective bargaining unit, and upon expiration of current agreements, would negotiate any future agreements on a regional basis.
· Language in the Bills mention implementing consolidation “in manner similar to the probate districts”, but it is unclear what this means.

WHAT ARE THE RAMIFICATIONS?
· This legislation would eliminate local control of New Canaan schools.
· Multiple studies have shown that consolidation does not lead to efficiencies.
· Larger scale and differing priorities could lead to a decline in the quality of New Canaan’s schools, as well as those of districts to be consolidated with New Canaan.
· The existence of the Bills are already dissuading potential homebuyers from considering New Canaan.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE LEGISLATURE?
The Bills were referred to the Joint Committee on Education last week. The Education Committee is made up of 23 Democrats and 14 Republicans, including Gail Lavielle (R) of Wilton. Of the members, 8 are from the Senate (6D-2R), and 29 are from the House (17D-12R).

1) If the Education Committee votes to take up the Bills, it will draft a more detailed proposal.

2) The Committee will also vote to schedule a public hearing. Your voices would be very influential at this hearing. The Bills may be revised to take into account testimony from the hearing.

3) If after the hearing the Committee decides to bring the Bills to a vote, it will schedule a committee vote at a meeting to be held before April 1.

4) The Bills may then be referred to another committee(s), or go straight to the Senate for a vote, and then to the House. If it is never called for a vote in committee, or later in the Senate or the House, the bill dies.