State legislature approved waiver on last day

By Wiley Wood

On the last day of its session, the state legislature in Hartford passed a bill that would allow the Norfolk-Colebrook regionalization plan to proceed.

The plan for a new school district that would unite the primary schools of both towns under one roof is now being reviewed by the State Board of Education, which will return its decision at its regular monthly meeting on July 1.

Originally, the plan ran afoul of two state statutes. The bill just passed by the legislature waives certain provisions of these statutes as they apply to Norfolk and Colebrook for a period of ten years.

A delegation from the Norfolk-Colebrook Regionalization Study Group, which crafted the plan over the past two and a half years, will attend the state board’s meeting to answer any questions that might arise.

If the plan for regionalization is approved by the State Board of Education, the towns will have 90 days to hold a public hearing followed by simultaneous referendums. The measure must pass in both towns for a new school district to be formed.

The proposed regionalization plan is available from the town clerk’s office and on the town website, www.norfolkct.org.