Swampscott, Nahant further discuss school regionalization

SWAMPSCOTT-School officials in Nahant and Swampscott are committed to exploring options for combining the two districts through either regionalization or uniting superintendents.Swampscott Superintendent Matthew Malone said both school committees are committed to providing the best education possible for students in both communities.?There’s a great spirit of teamwork between the two committees,” he said. “We’re looking at exploring options to collaborate through either regionalization or a superintendent union. We agreed to create a study group to explore both options.”At a joint meeting of the two school committees this week, a decision was made to explore both options but the discussions are still in the infancy stage, according to Nahant School Committee member Peter Przybycien.?This is not going to happen overnight,” he said. “As we go to next step we will generate a joint exploratory committee to outline the pros and cons of regionalization and superintendent union. There is a lot of work to be done going forward. We intend to keep the public informed and seek public input throughout the process.”Malone said there are some very distinct differences between regionalization and superintendent union.?Regionalization creates a new municipality so all Chap 70 funds for both towns go to the new municipality,” he said. “It requires more passion, changing the name of the district and Town Meeting votes.”Malone said regionalization is an agreement between two existing municipalities.?It is similar to a contract between two communities,” he said. “The two districts would share a superintendent, a special education director and other resources.”Malone said he is looking forward to the discussion and learning more about both options.?The people in Nahant are wonderful people and we love having Nahant as part of our school system,” he said. “We are committed to continue working with Nahant. We are going forward with our work on aligning the curriculum between the two communities, regardless.”Malone said the Department of Education has agreed to assist the districts with technical assistance needed to look at both options including how regionalization and superintendent union would affect both districts financially.Malone said at it first blush, it appeared there was a great deal of interest in the superintendent union model among School Committee members but both options would be explored.Przybycien said as a rule of thumb, regionalized districts realize the most savings in the area of transportation, but that does not appear to be true in this case.?It seems as if regionalization would make more sense in larger districts,” he said. “We would not realize any savings in transportation, but nothing is off the table.”Przybycien said that according to information provided by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, procedurally a regionalization or superintendent unionship could be accomplished in as little as six months.?In reality I think it will be a much longer process,” he said. “Both communities are in agreement they want to get as many people involved in this discussion as possible. It is something that would probably go before the respective Town Meetings.”Swampscott School Committee Chairman David Whelan said it his understanding the study committee would probably be prepared to make an initial report sometime in January.