Connecticut School District Regionalization...Could This Happen in Massachusetts? (Boston: inspector, taxi)

[CREW747]

https://www.theday.com/article/20190210/OP04/190219981

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.new...h-and-poor/amp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/patch.c...alization-plan

Thoughts?

I have been following this story over the past few weeks...

[KoNgFooCj]

My city (Norwich) has a population that fluctuates between 38,000 and 42,000 so it's right on the threshold. It's the seat and regional center of New London county though. Mass isn't as much of a complete disaster as my state though. Trust me, this could have happened years ago in CT. I'm surprised they held out this long.

[mdovell]

Ct is behind mass in reforms and laws.

50 years behind in affordable housing law 40b
35 years behind in procurement law
No independent inspector general
No state standardized tests. They are going through 1993 Era reforms now.
No cap on taxation prop 2 1/2.

So no limit on taxing, no real oversight in spending, no standards for education statewide etc

Mass already encourages regionalization but it doesn't force it. It also has Metco which dates back generations.

CT generally operates by decree and not laws. Local politics has party affiliations where it should be apolitical.

My gf is a teacher in CT and the administration and building management is poor at best. Mass grew investing in cities, CT grew investing in towns which are now falling apart. I think they do a better job managing their coast line but that's it.

Again they are way behind mass.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Mass grew investing in cities, CT grew investing in towns which are now falling apart.

What do you mean? How did CT invest in towns more than MA? I think over 40 years Mass invested in the Boston area by cleaning the harbor, extending and relocating T lines, building up the commuter rail and doing the Big Dig. Paul Tsongas got the state and fed to invest in Lowell. Otherwise I’m not sure how Conn and Mass differ on investing in their cities.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by missionhill

What do you mean? How did CT invest in towns more than MA? I think over 40 years Mass invested in the Boston area by cleaning the harbor, extending and relocating T lines, building up the commuter rail and doing the Big Dig. Paul Tsongas got the state and fed to invest in Lowell. Otherwise I’m not sure how Conn and Mass differ on investing in their cities.

Look at the Storrs center and west hartford vs development and new haven. Look at Bridgeport relative to the rest of Fairfield country. Mass has expanded rail to suburbs for over 40 years and to worcester. Ct only started doing that maybe five years ago

[thenewtexan]

Let me get this straight. They're making the decision based on town population instead of public school student population? The threshold is 40,000? So, Fitchburg with a population of 40,666 and just 5,362 public school students would not be required to merge, but a town like Shrewsbury with a population of 37,716, but with over 6,200 students would be forced to do so? Am I understanding this correctly?