School Committee Reverses New Braintree Consolidation Vote Under Legal Threat

BARRE -- August 1, 2018, Quabbin Regional School Committee unanimously reversed its June decision to consolidate all New Braintree Grade School students into Oakham Center School after the town of New Braintree threatened litigation. Superintendent Maureen Marshall told the committee the district's own attorney had concluded that removing all elementary grade levels from New Braintree Grade School likely ran afoul of Section 9 of the regional agreement, which permits reassignment of "one or more grade levels, but not all grade levels," and that a full school closure requires joint public hearings across all five member towns followed by a two-thirds School Committee vote. Despite survey results showing 19 of 27 responding New Braintree parents supported the consolidation, and 51 of 53 Oakham parents in favor, the committee voted 10-1 to reinstate the split model, keeping kindergarten and grade one in New Braintree and grades two through six in Oakham for 2018-2019. The committee also voted 10-1 to direct the superintendent to consult with attorneys and bring a formal school-closure roadmap to its September meeting, with Chair Mark Mullen noting the district has "better places to put our money" than a court battle.