School Districts Begin Work Toward Possible Mergers

School districts across the Northeast Kingdom and the Upper Valley have begun a months-long process under Act 170 to examine whether existing districts should merge or pursue other governance changes, with any potential merger proposals intended to go to voters at Town Meeting Day in 2028.

One of three regional merger committees held its organizational meeting Oct. 7 at the Danville School library. The committee represents the school districts of Blue Mountain Union, Cabot, Danville, Peacham, Oxbow Unified Union, Thetford and Waits River Valley.

A second committee, made up of districts from the North Country Supervisory Union and the Orleans Central Supervisory Union, also began meeting last week. A third Northeast Kingdom committee consisting of Canaan, NEK Choice, St. Johnsbury, Kingdom East, Caledonia Cooperative and Stannard was scheduled to meet Oct. 15 but was postponed because of concerns that the meeting had not been properly warned.

The committee representing the southern NEK districts elected Eric Hewitt of Danville as its chair after unanimously adopting Robert’s Rules of Order for small boards.

Former Vermont Acting and Interim Secretary of Education Heather Bouchey is facilitating the work for all three committees. Bouchey said she specifically requested assignment to the Northeast Kingdom because of her ties to the region.

And now it’s time for your Moo92 sports…

We will have a 1st time World Series Champion. The Tampa Bay Rays sent the Cleveland Guardians packing on Monday night as the Rays won game 6 by a score of 7-3. Junior Caminero’s 2 run bomb in the 7th was the difference. Tampa Bay will take on the Milwaukee Brewers for all the marbles. Game 1 starts Friday night. First pitch at 8pm.

In the NBA the Boston Celtics begin their quest for an NBA Championship today as they visit the Detroit Pistons. Boston projected to be the 3rd best team in the East behind the 76ers and Knicks. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder are favorites to win the whole thing. Piston Celtics tip off at 3pm today.

And in local sports…

The Lake Region Lady Rangers will travel to Brandon today to take on Otter Valley in the Girls Division 2 High School State Championship Soccer tournament today at 6pm while the North Country Boys will take on Rutland at 5pm as the Boys Division 1 State Championship tournament begins today as well.