Region 19 Board of Education Reapportionment Referendum
Why this referendum?
“Region 19” is the district that operates E.O. Smith High School. It includes the towns of Mansfield, Ashford and Willington. Each of these towns sends four members to the Region 19 Board of Education, where they have weighted votes based on their town’s population. According to the 2010 census, Mansfield gained population at a higher rate than the other two towns. As a result, under state law, the “weights” of Board member votes need to be slightly adjusted.
A committee with equal representation from each town developed a plan to meet this need. The committee was selected by each town’s governing body and included school board members and others. It was bi-partisan and its recommendation for adjustment was unanimous. The Connecticut Board of Education accepted the recommendation and it must now be approved by the voters in all three towns.
What does the Referendum say?
“Shall representation on the regional school board be established in accordance with the plan approved by the State Board of Education on August 9, 2012?”
What does this mean?
The “plan approved by the State Board of Education,” recommended by the Committee, provides that the Region 19 Board will continue to be comprised of 12 members, 4 from each town, with each town choosing its own four members. The voting power of members from each town, reflecting population, will be as follows: Mansfield, 8.12 (2.03 per member, up from 1.896 at present); Ashford, 1.60 (0.40 per member, down from 0.458 at present); and Willington, 2.28 (0.57 per member, down from 0.646 at present). This is a small change but, again, the law requires this adjustment.
There is no cost attached to this Referendum. It does not affect how per student costs are calculated.
Region 19 Reapportionment Committee. Printed at the expense of Timothy P. Nolan, Chairman.
