Williamstown Approves New School Union
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WILLIAMSTOWN — Voting unanimously, and with only brief discussion, the Williamstown Elementary School Committee agreed to join a superintendency union with Lanesborough Elementary School, effective July 1, 2008.
The vote, held at a special meeting Thursday evening, follows Lanesborough's 3-0 vote on Jan. 31 to dissolve School Union 69 with Richmond, New Ashford and Hancock.
Such a union, as outlined last month by Williamstown School Committee Chairman David Backus, would primarily exist at the administrative level, with each school sharing the costs of a superintendent, superintendent's assistant, special education director and business coordinator. That would save the school district an estimated $110,000 in 2008.
The benefits to Lanesborough, however, stretch beyond the financial. With William Ballen, the current superintendent of Union 69, and Paul Mays, its special education director, both leaving, Lanesborough now avoids a protracted search for their replacements. Lanesborough will also receive committee representation commensurate with its costs, a virtue school officials found lacking in Union 69, in which they had 25 percent of the votes but incurred more than half the costs.
A number of Lanesborough parents have expressed hope at earlier hearings that the new union between the schools will promote closer connections between their students, who become classmates once they enter Mount Greylock Regional High and Middle School.
Rose Ellis, Williamstown's school superintendent, and Michael Singleton, its special education director, would assume responsibility for both schools. Both were in attendance, as were members from the Lanesborough School Committee.
Among them was John "Jack" Hickey, who noted before the meeting that "our teachers from Lanesborough are having trouble with our decision, [but] it's the primary responsibility of the School Committee to advocate for the children." Following the Jan. 31 vote to dissolve Union 69, Bernadette McMahon, head of the Lanesborough Education Association, walked out of the room. She was followed by the other teachers.
In Williamstown, opposition to the union has focused on special education, and the availability of resources and manpower were the two schools to unite. In a meeting at the end of last month, many parents expressed concern that the proposed union was distracting the school from filling a long vacant occupational therapist position.
Before the superintendency union goes into effect, a number of conditions must first be met:
The state Department of Education will need to give its approval;
- Both Lanesborough and Williamstown school committees will need to agree on a new three-year salary contract with Ellis;
- Ellis' current contract will need to be set aside, effective June 30;
- both schools will need to establish bylaws outlining the administration of the union.
Backus and Lanesborough School Committee member Sheila Herbert agreed to work together to achieve those conditions.
Following the meeting, which last no more than 10 minutes, members of both school committees met informally with each other and the few members of the community who attended the meeting. Williamstown board member Margaret McComish said the turnout might have been affected by a recent article in The Berkshire Eagle in which Backus was quoted as saying he'd be surprised if the union didn't pass.
McComish went on to express her enthusiasm for the new union: "I'm on the School Committee and am a parent. I think it's a great opportunity for the school and both towns."
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