Members of the Temple’s School Study Committee and the town’s representative to the ConVal School Board shared financial information and possible scenarios for the town’s students and the town’s relationship with the district with about 35 residents at Town Hall Thursday. 

“Along with Sharon, Temple has the highest percentage of its property tax bills going to the schools - 71%,” said Gail Cromwell, co-chair of the School Study Committee. Of Temple’s total tax rate of $15.99 per thousand, $11.42 goes to education.

Uncertainty about Temple’s future costs and obligations stems from Francestown and Dublin moving forward with votes in March to separate from the district. The state Board of Education granted both towns permission to move forward last month. Temple representative to the ConVal School Board Jim Kingston said that the SAU would still provide certain services to Dublin and Francestown even if separations were to occur.

According to Kingston, Temple’s share of the overall district budget would increase from 6.4% to 7.9%, and “Temple’s cost could rise $228,000 a year if the two towns leave, creating a $1.05 increase in the town tax rate.”

However, Kingston expressed skepticism over cost increases projected by the SAU.

“I can see it would cost more, but not as much as the SAU is saying it will. I’m less than satisfied with their numbers,” said Kingston. “Even though it’s going to cost us a bit more, I can’t vote to deny a town the right to educate its children.”

Cromwell explained proposals the committee made to area select boards over recent months that include moving grades seven and eight from both middle schools in the district into the high school, moving Peterborough Elementary students to the South Meadow School building, and for students from Antrim Elementary School to attend classes at Great Brook School. In both cases, seventh- and eighth-graders moving to the high school would provide room for the elementary students.

Resident Gary Scholl commented on the impact of towns withdrawing on those remaining.

“Every time a town pulls out, it makes it harder for the next town to do so,” Scholl said. Kingston agreed with this point.

“Is there a downside to a warrant article proposing a withdrawal?” asked resident Clay Lennartz. “Would it insulate us from the $44 million fiasco that’s out there?”

Lennartz’s question steered the discussion to the construction proposals for the high school, including an upgrade of the Career and Technology Education space. 

“What they’re calling a CTE project is actually a high school project with a CTE,” said Kingston. 

A proposed $33,479,125 project would renovate the CTE and provide upgrades to the high school. According to information most-recently presented at a Dec. 4 forum, the state has traditionally funded 75% of eligible CTE costs. With the CTE work projected to cost $19,643,697, 75% funding would total $14,732,773. None of the high school work would be eligible for state funding, leaving taxpayers responsible for $18,746,353. A separate potential project to renovate the high school’s Lucy Hurlin Theatre would cost $10,657,002, none of which would be eligible for state funding.

School Board Chair Richard Dunning and Dublin School Board representative Alan Edelkind said in October that it is possible for the state to fund the CTE cost at a level between 50% and 75%. 

“If they have the money, they will,” Kingston said Thursday of the state covering part of the CTE costs.” If they don’t, they won’t. It was approached as a ‘What can we get?’ plan, not ‘What can we afford?’”

One issue that is part of the CTE proposal has been concern that if ConVal does not seek and receive funding during this round it will not be available to the district for years. 

On Friday, Jeff Beard of the state Department of Education Workforce Innovation Division, which manages CTE funding, stated that “There is no set amount of time between recommendations in statute or rules,” regarding a district’s eligibility for state support. 

Kingston noted a comment by Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut on the matter. “You won’t have to wait 20 years to get funding again,” he quoted Edelblut as saying.

“There’s a fear tactic of not going after the money,” Kingston said. “It’s been approached as a sale. It’s not a sale if you can’t afford it.”

Town Treasurer Peter Allen asked what effect a bond for the project could have on the town’s tax rate, but that impact was not clear.

“Not doing something doesn’t mean that the CTE ends. We have a very successful program now,” said Kingston.

Cromwell ended the meeting by announcing that a survey on educational matters will be forthcoming, and she encouraged residents to respond to it.