The warrant article to close four of our elementary schools is ill-reasoned and rushed. The argument that it be passed in order to do a real analysis is spurious.

I understand the burden the ConVal budget puts on our towns, and in turn on taxpayers, especially those on fixed incomes. I respect the challenge that the SAU and the School Board face in trying to manage a $58 million budget. But of the $2.6 million in savings promised, $2 million is expected to come through voluntary staff attrition over time. Even if savings happen, the stated intent is to shift the monies to middle and high school programs – and, in any case, won’t do much to offset rising cost trends.

Bottom line – taxpayers should not expect any relief from closing elementary schools in four of our towns.

More importantly, busing elementary students to a school in another town is wrong for students, parents and towns. The “rhetorical questions” about “safety” that we’ve been asked to consider apply much more to small children riding buses for hours a day.

Physical school location is most critical in the early years, when parents, community and local educators work together to lay the foundation for lifetime learning, emotional resilience, character and citizenship. What’s more, elementary schools make our towns actual towns.

It’s time to move beyond budget-fiddling to think holistically about how best to address the big challenges our public schools are facing: an unsustainable funding model, coexistence with charter/homeschooling; disruptive technologies and more.

Just as our towns are investing in community-based power, agriculture and businesses, we should recognize the value of our community-based elementary schools – now, and for the future of public education.

On March 12, vote no on Article 10.

Linda Lindgren

Francestown