The date to vote on a merger of the two districts -- ANWSD and MAUSD -- is fast approaching. One question that comes up a lot, and seems to have been buried in the past is: "What exactly are we voting on?" Well, the answer to that is: a merger of the districts themselves -- the administration of the schools going from two separate school boards, two separate administrations, and separate contracts with staff, to one school board and one administration, and staff contracts that apply all across the newly merged district. If the new school district (with input from board, administration, and communities) decides to change where any kids go to school (e.g. shift to one high school and one middle school for the district), that would start later and be implemented over the course of several years.

So a vote to merge now won't affect any current plans, for example, of where a kid will go to school, graduation requirements, or any bus routes, in the next year or probably even two or three years (beyond the normal level of change that always happens year to year). All those kinds of changes would have to be thoughtfully phased in after the administrative and governing aspects of the district have been put into place and are up and running, which would take place next fall if we vote "yes" to the merger.

Everyone is invited to learn more at the final information session on Tuesday, Nov. 1st at 6pm. There will be three ways to participate in this meeting: attend in person at VUHS (in the Library), attend in person at Holley Hall in Bristol, or attend via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83274908608?pwd=amVYdUc1a0hvNWYzL2Y1ZHFzMEFLdz09
Meeting ID: 832 7490 8608
Passcode: MERGER

This meeting is hosted by the two school boards and will be presented by the members of the merger study committee. (One meeting happening simultaneously in two places plus Zoom.) It is informational, so not in a Q&A format, but there will be an opportunity for public comment after the presentation. If you have questions you can always ask a member of the merger study committee -- see the link below for ways to get in touch or just email me through this post!

Voting is one week after the informational meeting, on Tuesday, Nov. 8th. In order to vote on the merger and on the candidates for the new school board that would be formed if the merger vote passes you need to get the proper ballots from your town clerk -- they aren't included in the ballots that are automatically mailed to your residence.

Get all the facts, including on the voting process, at the merger study website: https://www.anwsd.org/anwsd-mausd-merger-study-committee.php

Event Info

Nov 19, 2024, 5:30 to 6:30 PM

Nov 21, 2024, 5 to 8 PM

Nov 26, 2024, 7 PM