Scott,

     I have been reading your blog and I agree that Newbury should consolidate with another school district.   It makes so much sense from an economic standpoint.  I don't know if you collapse Newbury into Berkshire or into West G or Kenston.  But it needs to be done and should have been done 40 years ago.  Also, Berkshire and the Cardinal districts need to be consolidated. 

     I assume the reluctancy is primarily based on the loss of jobs and maybe tradition/habit.

Robert M. Cipolla

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Robert:  Yes, there needs to be consolidation and I've addressed that with detail in past posts.  Whenever you bring up merging or consolidation, PEOPLE GO APESHIT.  They start grinding their teeth and crying and shouting to the heavens all about "our hometown school".  Then the Einsteins start saying stupid remarks like "Well, we won't save that much if we merge."  Dumbest comment on the face of the earth...  Once the emotions subside, there is one issue left standing:  Dinky schools like Newbury and Berkshire cannot sustain their budgets or come anywhere close...   The poor excuse for a super over in Newbury did his "own study" of the matter and came to his own "conclusion" that it "should not happen".  What an idiot... 

     OF COURSE you save money!  First off, you save $100,000 on a super!  Then you CLOSE buildings and that's more of a savings.  You SELL stuff - that generates money.  You COMBINE.  That saves money.  OF COURSE.

     Consolidation talks need to start NOW.  I've been saying that for ten years.  One day they will thank me for that.  (But I ain't holding my breath...)