WASHINGTON—Region 12’s referendum proposing a consolidated elementary school on the Shepaug campus with students from Bridgewater, Roxbury and Washington was defeated two towns to one Tuesday night.
Just one town needed to vote down the referendum for it to be defeated. Bridgewater and Roxbury defeated the referendum handily with Washington sticking to its guns and voting “yes.”
As expected, the vote passed in Washington and was defeated in Bridgewater. Roxbury was the wild card town, with First Selectman Barbara Henry saying earlier in the afternoon that she didn’t know how her town was going to vote in the referendum.
When driving through Bridgewater, viewers were bombarded with signs in capital letters: “S.O.S.” or “Save Our School” along with reminders that their elementary school—Burnham School—was once again ranked No. 1 in the state.
It was clear that the town opposed consolidation of its elementary school in a new elementary school on the Shepaug campus in Washington. The referendum was defeated by a 10 to 1 ratio in Bridgewater.
Two questions were on the ballot—the first question proposing a change to existing language that requires each town to have its own elementary school and replace it with language that allows a consolidated school on the Shepaug campus. The second question asked if more than $40.8 million should be appropriated for the consolidated elementary school and renovations to the existing middle/high school.
Of that $40.8 million, $32.6 million would have been put toward the construction of the elementary school and $8.3 million would be used for renovations to the existing school.
In Bridgewater, on the first question, 81 people voted “yes” and 787 people voted “no.” On the second question, 58 people voted “yes” and 818 voted “no.” Of the three towns, voter turnout was highest in Bridgewater at 69 percent; 879 out of the town’s 1,266 registered voters showed up at the polls.
Despite strong opposition, residents exiting the polls in Bridgewater at around 4 p.m. were reluctant to talk to the media. One resident agreed to give a statement, using just her first name. Jean said she was voting “no.”
“I think we have a wonderful elementary school and I can’t see why our kids should have to drive an hour [to go to school],” she said.
Jean added that Burnham School is consistently ranked No. 1 in education and that the elementary school and library work hand-in-hand together.
In a phone conversation away from the polls, S.O.S. co-chair Carolyn Dwyer said she voted “no” on both questions—regarding consolidation and the question regarding construction upgrades at the high school.
“The reason being is we feel having a school in Bridgewater is vital to our community. They’re doing a wonderful job educationally.”
Ms. Dwyer said she would rather see a merger of the two kindergarten classes from Bridgewater and Roxbury as those enrollments are lowest, instead of a complete elementary consolidation in the three towns.
“The kids here are getting an excellent education where they are now,” Ms. Dwyer said. “It needs to be the end of the consolidation plan. People are upset, angry and nervous.”
Driving through Washington, a person was met with a stark contrast in attitude to that in Bridgewater. Signs urging residents to “vote ‘yes’ for our children’s future” were plastered along the road leading up to the polling place at the town hall.
Residents did just that, making the town the lone supporter of the referendum.
For question 1 in Washington, there were 550 “yes” votes and 251 “no” votes. For question 2, 532 people voted “yes” and 288 people voted “no.” The town had the lowest voter turnout at 34 percent, with 810 of its 2,396 registered voters punching the ballot.
Outside the town hall around 5 p.m., some Washington residents were not as pleased with the consolidation proposal as the final tallies suggested.
“It’s a big pile of bullshit,” Washington resident Donald Williams Jr. said. “It’s crazy. I would like to have someone tell me what they’re going to do with the other schools.”
Another resident, Matilda Giampietro, was disappointed in how the process played out, saying that the referendum had become a divisive issue among the three towns, when leaders from each town should be working together to find the best solution.
“I am upset that it’s been handled like this,” Ms. Giampietro said. “It feels pretty obvious that Bridgewater will vote it down. It won’t go anywhere so it’s an exercise in futility.”
Throughout the process, it was unclear as to which way Roxbury was leaning on the consolidation issue. However, when results came in Tuesday night, the numbers weren’t close. For question 1, there were 306 “yes” votes and 585 “no” votes. On the second question, 245 people voted “yes” and 669 voted “no,” a 3-to-1 ratio. Voter turnout was high in Roxbury at 54.4 percent, with 903 of its 1,661 registered voters making their voices heard.
One resident, who didn’t want to give his last name, said the increased taxes that would result from a consolidated elementary school made him “uncomfortable.”
“I felt the need to vote because the plan for the school benefits the minority [people who have kids in the schools] rather than the majority,” Michael said.
Region 12 Superintendent Pat Cosentino said by telephone after the votes were tallied that she respected the community’s decision.
“I sincerely believe it [consolidation] was the best option educationally and socially,” Ms. Cosentino said. “However, we live in a democracy and what the parents and community wants takes precedence. I will take this into account and discuss with the board [how] to address the [continuing] issue of declining enrollment.”
Ms. Cosentino said that on Monday night there will be a combined regular budget and Board of Education meeting, where discussion will include what the next step after the failed vote will be. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Shepaug Library in Washington.
“I think it’s important that we voted,” Ms. Cosentino said. “I’m proud of the work that we did to get the vote out and I respect the decision of the community.
”
Just one town needed to vote down the referendum for it to be defeated. Bridgewater and Roxbury defeated the referendum handily with Washington sticking to its guns and voting “yes.”
As expected, the vote passed in Washington and was defeated in Bridgewater. Roxbury was the wild card town, with First Selectman Barbara Henry saying earlier in the afternoon that she didn’t know how her town was going to vote in the referendum.
When driving through Bridgewater, viewers were bombarded with signs in capital letters: “S.O.S.” or “Save Our School” along with reminders that their elementary school—Burnham School—was once again ranked No. 1 in the state.
It was clear that the town opposed consolidation of its elementary school in a new elementary school on the Shepaug campus in Washington. The referendum was defeated by a 10 to 1 ratio in Bridgewater.
Two questions were on the ballot—the first question proposing a change to existing language that requires each town to have its own elementary school and replace it with language that allows a consolidated school on the Shepaug campus. The second question asked if more than $40.8 million should be appropriated for the consolidated elementary school and renovations to the existing middle/high school.
Of that $40.8 million, $32.6 million would have been put toward the construction of the elementary school and $8.3 million would be used for renovations to the existing school.
In Bridgewater, on the first question, 81 people voted “yes” and 787 people voted “no.” On the second question, 58 people voted “yes” and 818 voted “no.” Of the three towns, voter turnout was highest in Bridgewater at 69 percent; 879 out of the town’s 1,266 registered voters showed up at the polls.
Despite strong opposition, residents exiting the polls in Bridgewater at around 4 p.m. were reluctant to talk to the media. One resident agreed to give a statement, using just her first name. Jean said she was voting “no.”
“I think we have a wonderful elementary school and I can’t see why our kids should have to drive an hour [to go to school],” she said.
Jean added that Burnham School is consistently ranked No. 1 in education and that the elementary school and library work hand-in-hand together.
In a phone conversation away from the polls, S.O.S. co-chair Carolyn Dwyer said she voted “no” on both questions—regarding consolidation and the question regarding construction upgrades at the high school.
“The reason being is we feel having a school in Bridgewater is vital to our community. They’re doing a wonderful job educationally.”
Ms. Dwyer said she would rather see a merger of the two kindergarten classes from Bridgewater and Roxbury as those enrollments are lowest, instead of a complete elementary consolidation in the three towns.
“The kids here are getting an excellent education where they are now,” Ms. Dwyer said. “It needs to be the end of the consolidation plan. People are upset, angry and nervous.”
Driving through Washington, a person was met with a stark contrast in attitude to that in Bridgewater. Signs urging residents to “vote ‘yes’ for our children’s future” were plastered along the road leading up to the polling place at the town hall.
Residents did just that, making the town the lone supporter of the referendum.
For question 1 in Washington, there were 550 “yes” votes and 251 “no” votes. For question 2, 532 people voted “yes” and 288 people voted “no.” The town had the lowest voter turnout at 34 percent, with 810 of its 2,396 registered voters punching the ballot.
Outside the town hall around 5 p.m., some Washington residents were not as pleased with the consolidation proposal as the final tallies suggested.
“It’s a big pile of bullshit,” Washington resident Donald Williams Jr. said. “It’s crazy. I would like to have someone tell me what they’re going to do with the other schools.”
Another resident, Matilda Giampietro, was disappointed in how the process played out, saying that the referendum had become a divisive issue among the three towns, when leaders from each town should be working together to find the best solution.
“I am upset that it’s been handled like this,” Ms. Giampietro said. “It feels pretty obvious that Bridgewater will vote it down. It won’t go anywhere so it’s an exercise in futility.”
Throughout the process, it was unclear as to which way Roxbury was leaning on the consolidation issue. However, when results came in Tuesday night, the numbers weren’t close. For question 1, there were 306 “yes” votes and 585 “no” votes. On the second question, 245 people voted “yes” and 669 voted “no,” a 3-to-1 ratio. Voter turnout was high in Roxbury at 54.4 percent, with 903 of its 1,661 registered voters making their voices heard.
One resident, who didn’t want to give his last name, said the increased taxes that would result from a consolidated elementary school made him “uncomfortable.”
“I felt the need to vote because the plan for the school benefits the minority [people who have kids in the schools] rather than the majority,” Michael said.
Region 12 Superintendent Pat Cosentino said by telephone after the votes were tallied that she respected the community’s decision.
“I sincerely believe it [consolidation] was the best option educationally and socially,” Ms. Cosentino said. “However, we live in a democracy and what the parents and community wants takes precedence. I will take this into account and discuss with the board [how] to address the [continuing] issue of declining enrollment.”
Ms. Cosentino said that on Monday night there will be a combined regular budget and Board of Education meeting, where discussion will include what the next step after the failed vote will be. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Shepaug Library in Washington.
“I think it’s important that we voted,” Ms. Cosentino said. “I’m proud of the work that we did to get the vote out and I respect the decision of the community.
”
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