Facts, not assumptions, should guide TV vote
15 months ago | 715 views | 4 
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I believe there are so many facts out there and you are only hearing the assumptions.
It is a fact that Whitingham, after the first year, can have a pre-K through eighth-grade budget without being in the penalty box. It is an assumption that we would have to pay $221,428 in severance pay, which would be a one time payment, only if Wilmington doesn’t have a high school or middle school.
So this means if Wilmington maintains a high school and middle school we will have to pay little to no severance pay. It is a fact that we will provide the children with a well-rounded education. It is also an assumption that we would have to cut electives out of our children’s education.
It is a fact that other towns tuition their kids out to other schools and parents still maintain a job. It is a fact there are 219 kids in our area that have school choice and only 50 kids take advantage of our local high school, Twin Valley. It is unknown how many millions it will take to repair Twin Valley High School, a Wilmington building. But it is a fact that a portion of that cost will be Whitingham’s cost.
If we keep Twin Valley, combining kindergarten through 12th grade is still on the plate and our elementary kids could end up in Wilmington elementary and the middle school and high school could end up in Whitingham, with additions to both buildings that could cost millions.
Another part of combining a kindergarten through 12th grade is Wilmington would always have a say over the whole education system and our building that is in Whitingham, because they will always have more students than we do, so they would always have more board members.
Whitingham has the average of 50 kids at the high school level. Is it worth losing control of our building, control over our kids’ education? It is a fact if you choose to vote to keep Twin Valley you are taking away our choice where our kids can get educated. If you vote to dissolve Twin Valley, we would have the freedom to send our students to McCann, Drury, Brattleboro, Mt. Anthony, Mohawk, or Wilmington. Your kids would have the freedom to choose from many public and private schools.
However, if a private school is selected, Whitingham would have to pay the state average tuition. So why not give our kids the choice and let them have the freedom to choose where they want to get educated. This is the only option with no renovation cost of millions. This is the only option that gives the parents a choice of where to send their children to high school.
As Penny Bernard was quoted in The Deerfield Valley News, “ I have a difficult time with people in town telling me what to do with my kids.” I must agree with her because, not letting our kids have a choice is taking away their freedom. I have a problem with making my kids go to Twin Valley, when there are so many other options out there.
Respectfully,
Cheree Dix
Whitingham
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1. Whitingham will only be able to stay out of the penalty box if it cuts the current elementary and middle school program.
2. Whitingham will have to pay severance pay no matter what Wilmington does. Teachers have a contract with Twin Valley school, which is what you're proposing to end, not with Wilmington. If you're counting on Wilmington to hire back every teacher that loses their job by your actions, you're only kidding yourself.
3. Other towns do tuition their students - many of those parents choose Twin Valley, and their tuition reduces our per-pupil cost. If the contract ends, Whitingham will lose that revenue, and we'll pay full price at each of the choice schools, including Wilmington, if it still exists.
Parents in those towns do manage to work, but their choices are limited to the school for which trasnportation is provided, or one that is near their place of employment.
4. It is a fantasy that withdrawing from the contract will save Whitingham from paying for improvements at the building in Wilmington. On the contrary, Whitingham will pay through their tuition to Wilmington High School, which is where the vast majority of students will go. In fact, Whitingham taxpayers could pay more to Wilmington under school choice! Whitingham won't get to vote yea or nay on any project in Wilmington as they do under Twin Valley, Whitingham won't have a $2 million credit, and Whitingham's share won't be subsidized by the tuition that people in other towns pay.
5. If you "keep Twin Valley," Whitingham will still be able to vote down any elementary collaboration if they wish to do so. Big bad Wilmington can't force Whitingham to do anything the voters of Whitingham don't want to do.
And get real! Wilmington is your neighbor!
It's understandable that there has been so much passion over this issue, but it's shocking that it has been driven solely by misinformation. It's a concern that a board member could perpetuate the misinformation.