No easy options for Williamsburg schools

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

WILLIAMSBURG - Discussions about the regionalization of Williamsburg schools remain in the early stages. Town Administrator Steven Herzberg said the town has wanted to perform a feasibility study for several years, and that in the state's current economic climate, it is important to talk about the town's other options.

"The problem is that we are dealing with a school system that isn't increasing its student population, so we won't be seen as a top priority for funding," Herzberg said in a phone interview. "But because of the condition of the (Anne T. Dunphy School) building, we have to think of other options - other than money from the state." Alternatives include reconsidering the number of school buses the town uses, by shortening routes or starting them earlier, and the possibility of switching to a four-day school week. That is something selectmen acknowledged would save the town money, but was dismissed as "unrealistic."

Board members said state officials have often responded to their request for school funding by encouraging the system to consider regionalizing with another area elementary school district, such as Chesterfield-Goshen.

"This is a discussion that we have to have now regardless of whether state funding will be available," said Herzberg. "We have to raise the issue now because among other things, the furnace in that school has been on its last legs for a long time and we have to start looking at other ways to raise funding for these renovations."

Superintendent Barbara Ripa said any regionalization would pose a considerable challenge. "There has been absolutely no formal discussion about regionalizing at this time," said Ripa.

"The Massachusetts School Building Authority's approach has been to say we should regionalize with another town. If that were to happen, there isn't a school that could currently house the number of students that go to school in Williamsburg," she said.