MONTPELIER – The Washington Central Unified Union School Board to recommend closing Calais Elementary School and Worcester’s Doty Memorial School WCUUSB) voted last Wednesday, Dec. 17.
The proposed budget, which the board has yet to accept a final revision of, shows a savings of 0.66% and a reduction of 0.89% in the amount needing to be raised by property taxes. WCUUSB Superintendent Steven Dellinger-Pate said in his presentation the proposed budget meets the district’s financial goals and most of the programmatic goals set by the board.
January 20, 2026, was set as the date for a special election, where voters in both towns will be asked to weigh in on closing their school during a marathon meeting at U-32 Middle and High School in Montpelier that lasted just under six hours. It ended after midnight,
One-hundred-ten pages of material was distributed before the meeting, significantly more than the 16 pages in a packet prepared for the regular meeting a week earlier that was cancelled due to weather. The full board packet with the superintendent’s presentation is at tinyurl.com/WCUUSD-12-27-2025-Board-Packet
The vote to adopt a configuration model with three multi-town elementary schools, one middle school and one high school passed by a narrow 7-6 margin.
An amendment offered by board member Chris McVeigh asking the board to honor the vote of any town voting no to close their school failed. In discussion about the motion, McVeigh referred to the articles of agreement, concerned that the board had not heard anything about the impact on towns should their schools close.
Motions made and approved immediately after the configuration vote called first for closing Doty Elementary School, then Calais Elementary School.
A memo to school board members from Superintendent Dellinger-Pate indicated the budget must be submitted on January 23 for a vote on Town Meeting Day, Tuesday, March 3.
Board Chair Flor Diaz Smith welcomed public comments prior to a budget presentation prior to the votes. Community members expressed concerns about school closures, teacher reductions and the decision-making process.
A fifth-grade student spoke to urge against closing schools, while parents voiced concerns about teacher reductions and the emotional impact of decisions made without what they see as adequate process. Community members presented arguments for and against school consolidation, highlighting the need for careful consideration and transparency in decision-making.
A presentation of budget options by the superintendent gave members and visitors a look at two budgets, one reflecting the current school configuration and another proposing the three-elementary school model. While the financial goals established by the board were met in the proposal covering the current school configuration, programmatic goals were not, given the reductions in staff required to meet the financial goals. Too few staff would be spread across too many campuses.
In Calais, for example, a nurse would be available just one day a week, requiring other staff to provide the services normally provided by the school’s nurse.
Following the presentation, board members sought guidance on which direction to pursue, acknowledging uncertainties in legislative outcomes affecting tax data.
The board discussed the implications of declining enrollment and the need for restructuring, which led to the motion for adopting the model with just three multi-town elementary schools, one middle and one high school.
Board members expressed mixed feelings about the new model while emphasizing the importance of community input and honoring town votes before they voted for it.
Meeting minutes are at bit.ly/WCUUSD_Minutes_12-17-2025
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
