EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATION, CENTRAL OFFICE CONSOLIDATION, AND DISTRICT REGIONALIZATION

Combining school systems for the benefit of all

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

g

1

March

2, 2

01

1

OUR APPROACH TO REGIONALIZATION Balancing the need for local control with educational

effectiveness and efficiency Taking the time to work out agreements that are in the

best interests of all (towns, schools, children, taxpayers)

Making sure that one thing is working before moving on to the next

Recognizing that consolidation and regionalization are done to improve education

Working to make sure that your students are getting the best possible education for the educational resources that are available.

Recognition of the importance of local control, local decision-making, local interests

4

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

gM

arch

2, 2

01

1

EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATION

National Institute for School Leadership Response to Intervention Tools of the Mind Learning Walks

March

2, 2

01

1

5

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

g

CENTRAL OFFICE CONSOLIDATION

This year: Shared Special Education Administrative team Next year (beginning July 1st): Shared Superintendent of Schools Shared Assistant Superintendent for Teaching

Learning and Accountability (0.3 FTE) Shared Assistant Superintendent for Elementary

Education

March

2, 2

01

1

6

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

g

CENTRAL OFFICE CONSOLIDATION AND EDUCATIONAL COLLABORATION: BENEFITS TO THE SCHOOLS

7

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

gM

arch

2, 2

01

1

SCHOOL DISTRICT REGIONALIZATION

Shared health insurance negotiations Regional Planning Committee has been

meeting very regularly Regional Agreement is being amended to

create a ‘hybrid’ Mahar K-12 Regional School District Petersham and Orange will be full K-12 members Wendell and New Salem will continue to be 7-12

members

March

2, 2

01

1

8

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

g

HOW DOES CONSOLIDATION DIFFER FROM REGIONALIZATION? With a Consolidated Central Office:

Each school committee will have full authority over its own schools

The central office team will report separately to each school committee

Costs for shared positions will be allocated through contracts and shared cost agreements

When full regionalization occurs: There will be one common Mahar K-12 school

committee Costs will be shared according to the amended

Regional Agreement The district will receive Regional Transportation

Reimbursement.

March

2, 2

01

1

9

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

g

INTERESTS TO BE BALANCED IN THE NEW REGIONAL AGREEMENT Constructing a new School Committee that represents

all towns and all schools Maintaining a reasonable degree of local control

regarding both budget and education Balancing the needs and resources of one large town

and three smaller towns Allowing for a significant difference between towns in

historical and current levels of per pupil expenditures Allowing for School Choice funding streams to

continue to flow to specific schools Maintaining a strong emphasis on elementary

education

March

2, 2

01

1

18

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

g

KEY PROVISIONS IN THE CURRENT DRAFT OF THE AMENDED REGIONAL AGREEMENT: GOVERNANCE

The Mahar K-12 Regional District School Committee will consist of 12 members, elected biennially. Orange five members Petersham three members Wendell two members New Salem two members

Members will be elected at large, with a residency requirement.

Only Orange and Petersham members will vote on matters affecting elementary schools. There will be eight members only voting on

elementary matters19

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

gM

arch

2, 2

01

1

KEY PROVISIONS IN THE CURRENT DRAFT OF THE AMENDED REGIONAL AGREEMENT:

20

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

gM

arch

2, 2

01

1

PROCESS FOR AMENDING THE REGIONAL AGREEMENT

The Regional Planning Committee must first agree on an amended Regional Agreement.

All four Mahar member towns must then approve the agreement at annual or special town meetings.

The Commissioner of Education must then approve the agreement (by December 1st) in order for the agreement to take effect the following July 1st.

We’re working directly with DESE as we draft the amended agreement, to ensure that the final draft will be approved.

March

2, 2

01

1

21

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

g

For further information…

Questions about Central Office Consolidation: http://www.rcmahar.org/central-office-consolidation-

website/

Questions to Superintendent Burnim: paulburnim@orange-elem.org

Questions to Superintendent Baldassarre: mbaldassarre@rcmahar.org

Questions to Superintendent Martin: drmartin@petershamcenterschool.org

Questions to the Mahar Regional Planning Committee: m.leblanc75@yahoo.com

Questions to Ken Rocke: krocke48@gmail.com

March

2, 2

01

1

22

Pre

senta

tion to

the O

range C

om

munity

M

eetin

g