The possibility of the state requiring regionalization of smaller school districts brought a sharpe response today from Westport First Selectman Jim Marpe.
Discussing the possible change offered up by state legislators as a cost-saving measure, Marpe told today’s Town Hall State of the Town event: “Westport has set the bar for world class school systems throughout the nation, and I’m concerned about the possibility of combining that would not necessarily raise that bar but in fact have the potential to impact that quality.”
He added: “I think we have to be very careful as to how that would unfold” and who Westport might be required to partner with.
“I think we have a lot to lose as it relates to the quality of our community and the attractiveness of our community…,” he said.
Board of Education Chairman Mark Matthias said potentially requiring regionalization raised more questions than answers and that he and his board have not looked at it to render an opinion.
He noted that years ago he believed Westport and Weston shared a school district.
