Plymouth approves elementary school budget
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By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: April 11, 2009
PLYMOUTH — Residents approved an Elementary School District budget Tuesday night for what appears to be the final year the town will operate an elementary school.
By a unanimous floor vote, residents approved a budget of $770,699 for fiscal year 2009-10, a decrease of $18,268 or 2.3 percent less than the current budget of $788,967.
Prior to the vote Superintendent Judith Pullinen explained the decrease was due to a nearly $11,000 drop in personnel expenses, as well as decreased costs for secondary and special education due to declining enrollment.
Declining enrollment was the chief reason residents voted February to pay tuition to send pupils to other elementary schools. Enrollment has dropped from 41 pupils in 1999 to 19 pupils this year, with 18 projected next fall. At their next meeting following the vote, the School Board voted to close the school after the 2009-10 school year, and during Tuesday's annual meeting some residents asked what will happen next.
"After the school closes, are we going to have a meeting and what will it be composed of?" asked one voter.
Another resident asked the Board if they had begun negotiations to transport pupils to schools in Ludlow, Woodstock, Bridgewater and elsewhere. Board Chairwoman Anne Brown said the Board has discussed transportation but hasn't entered into formal negotiations.
Plymouth has joined other towns in the state — most in the central or northern parts — that have voted to close their schools. In recent years, residents in Belvidere, Waterville, Hancock and Granville have all voted to close their schools and tuition their pupils to surrounding towns, said Jill Remick, communications director for the Department of Education.
"Enrollment (statewide) is on a downward slope and it doesn't appear it's going to increase any time soon," Remick.
School Boards in Peacham and Sutton are also discussing closing their schools, Remick said.
"The school closures we've seen have been the tiny, tiny schools and not the sort of large consolidations that will save a lot of money," said Cathy Hilgendorf, director of school construction for the Department of Education.
Plymouth residents will save about $70,000 by closing their school, a savings of about 6 cents on the tax rate.
josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com
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