School consolidation is a phrase most parents don’t want to hear. It can mean longer commute times, difficulty getting kids to school and problems picking them up after school. Loss of teachers, change of environment and change of friends for the children are all problems.

Budget cuts in education may result in the consolidation of two Deerfield Valley elementary schools.

Although communities don’t want to lose schools, the cost of maintaining two small schools is double the cost of maintaining a single school with more students.

The high school needs to be renovated and there is insufficient money to do so. Savings made by consolidating the elementary schools could be used for the renovation.

Wilmington Town School District Directors, together with the Whitingham School Board and Twin Valley High School Board have until October 5 to decide how they will vote on proposals to continue seeking renovation alternatives for the high school or to consolidate the elementary schools.

See a more in-depth story in the Brattleboro Reformer

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