As previously reported, a committee of town and school officials from Hampton and Scotland was appointed earlier this year to discuss possible collaborations between the towns’ schools  in response to the escalating costs of education while student enrollment  continues to decline. Approximately 90 students attend Scotland’s elementary school while Hampton’s student population is approximately 70, for a combined total of 160 students.

Though collaborative possibilities include measures such as sharing administrative services — superintendent, principal, business coordinator and special education director, and certified staff for art, music and physical education, operating a single school under a cooperative agreement between the two schools is not out of the question. For the past several years, Scotland and Hampton’s joint venture, the School Readiness Council, has successfully collaborated to provide early childhood experiences in the towns and the schools.

The Ad Hoc Committee for Inter-district Education Cost Sharing recently extended its membership to include parents and community members from the two towns to conduct research with a two-pronged approach: mission and programming; and governance and finance.  According to the Minutes of the July 29 Meeting, the Educational Program Committee is “charged with studying the delivery of educational services equivalent to the services students are currently receiving from each of the two schools.”  The following members were appointed to this committee: Hampton Elementary School Board of Education Chairman Rose Bisson and member Juan Arriola, Scotland Elementary School Board of Education Chairman Brynn Lipstreau, and two Scotland residents, former official Clare D’Appollonio and parent Angela Maschka. The Governance Committee is “charged with financial and governance matters, including budgeting.” Members appointed to this committee include: Bisson, First Selectmen Allan Cahill of Hampton and Gary Greenburg of Scotland, Hampton Board of Finance Chairman Kathy Donahue, and Scotland resident and former official Tom McAvoy.

The Educational Program Committee expects to complete its task by Thanksgiving; the Governance Committee anticipates a spring, 2022 completion. Meetings, noticed on the websites of both towns, are open to the public, and time is allotted for public comment.