By Wiley Wood

The current legislative session in Hartford lasts until June 3, but it seems unlikely that the State Department of Education will endorse a proposal between now and then that will allow the Norfolk-Colebrook regionalization plan to proceed.

The two towns have worked for three years on an agreement that would allow them to consolidate their elementary schools, both of which are projected to dip in enrollment below 100 students in the next 10 years. The plan would preserve the academic offerings of the existing schools but, by bringing them under one roof, offer savings to both towns.

Existing legislation makes it difficult for a town to reduce its spending on education. The relevant statute, known as the Minimum Budget Requirement (MBR), was intended to keep municipalities from balancing their budgets by slashing school funding. In an era of declining enrollments statewide, the legislation has fielded mounting criticism. Despite this, state legislators have left it untouched.

Representatives from Norfolk and Colebrook have asked the Department of Education to endorse a waiver from the MBR and another, unrelated statute for a period of 10 years. Savings from consolidation during the first year are slight, but as enrollment drops and teaching personnel can be reduced, savings increase to the point where both towns benefit.

The response carried back from Hartford on March 19 by the state-appointed liaison to the State Board of Education, Matthew Venhorst, was unequivocal. The board would approve only a five-year waiver. The Norfolk-Colebrook Study Group, believing its plan would not be viable on a five-year timeline, opted not to proceed before making their case again to the Board of Education for a ten-year variance.

“The irony is clear,” said Jonathan Costa, an educational consultant to the regionalization effort. “The state encourages and wants small towns to save money by regionalizing and forming cooperative efforts, but now when they actually have two towns who want to do it, they are resisting making a change that will make it possible.”