[Wilton2ParkAve]

Originally Posted by Jarot

Westchester works, but look at Long Island. Same thing, loads of school districts, also very high taxes, and some of the highest taxed ones (five figures a year for many of these houses) are absolute disasters with horrible results (Hempstead, Brentwood, Central Islip, Patchogue-Medford, etc.). It's a downright joke. Long Island in general though is a joke.

If we regionalize, the existing layer that has created high taxes doesn't go away (districts are still responsible for pensions etc)--- but we are actually adding a new level of bureaucracy and essentially metamorphosing into Westchester/Nassau/Essex County. Taxes will go hyperbolic.

[Jarot]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

If we regionalize, the existing layer that has created high taxes doesn't go away (districts are still responsible for pensions etc)--- but we are actually adding a new level of bureaucracy and essentially metamorphosing into Westchester/Nassau/Essex County. Taxes will go hyperbolic.

Schools aside, I like that Connecticut doesn't have county governments, or villages. Towns and cities take care of their own business. When I moved out of Connecticut to Long Island, I became appalled that I had to go through and be taxed by state, county, town, then finally village.

Connecticut has its problems too, but I'm really happy to escape Long Island and come back to it.

[BPt111]

A site with CT data

4- and 5-Year Graduation Rates for Connecticut High Schools in 2013 | Outside the Neatline

[NewJeffCT]

Originally Posted by Wilton2ParkAve

If we regionalize, the existing layer that has created high taxes doesn't go away (districts are still responsible for pensions etc)--- but we are actually adding a new level of bureaucracy and essentially metamorphosing into Westchester/Nassau/Essex County. Taxes will go hyperbolic.

One thing that would create new taxes would possibly be building new schools - let's say that Canton combines with Burlington & Harwinton. The latter two are already a small regionalized school district, but would either Canton HS or Lewis Mills HS be able to handle all the students from both towns, or do you keep them in two high schools and basically you save only a bit of money by not having to pay two superintendents and two boards of education, and their associated support staff? The other option is to expand the bigger of the two high schools (if possible) and put a larger combined middle school into the other high school, which might also need expansion. So, more taxes to expand/update the schools.

Or, down in your neck of the woods - combine Wilton and Weston into one school system. Can either Wilton HS or Weston HS handle all the kids from both towns, or would a new school need to be built, or would Wilton HS need expansion?

Aren't most school building projects financed by issuing bonds paid out over 10/20/30 years?

[Mike 75]

Originally Posted by NewJeffCT

One thing that would create new taxes would possibly be building new schools - let's say that Canton combines with Burlington & Harwinton. The latter two are already a small regionalized school district, but would either Canton HS or Lewis Mills HS be able to handle all the students from both towns, or do you keep them in two high schools and basically you save only a bit of money by not having to pay two superintendents and two boards of education, and their associated support staff? The other option is to expand the bigger of the two high schools (if possible) and put a larger combined middle school into the other high school, which might also need expansion. So, more taxes to expand/update the schools.

Or, down in your neck of the woods - combine Wilton and Weston into one school system. Can either Wilton HS or Weston HS handle all the kids from both towns, or would a new school need to be built, or would Wilton HS need expansion?

Aren't most school building projects financed by issuing bonds paid out over 10/20/30 years?

In other words, so long as you have multiple schools, you don't really get the savings associated with economies of scale that is touted by regionalization. If you do consolidate schools (i.e. one elementary, one middle, one HS), you create the issue of transporting kids to and from those schools and creating long travel times as a result. Its one of my issues with Amity. I would be on a bus for 45 mins to an hour each way on my trip from Woodbridge to Bethany. Not fun.