Norfolk selectmen are considering a date in January for a public meeting to discuss the merger of Botelle Elementary School and Colebrook School. Colebrook held such a meeting on November 14, but many Norfolk residents, including some Board of Education members, did not know about it.
The November meeting was called by Colebrook First Selectman Brad Bremer and the boards of selectmen from both communities were invited. Norfolk First Selectman Matt Riiska reported at this Wednesday’s meeting of his board that about 25 people, most of them parents of Colebrook children, attended. Only three Norfolk residents were there.
“I was surprised to see all those people there and that they were able to speak,” said Norfolk selectman Sandy Evans. “I thought it was just going to be the selectmen.”
She said such a meeting is needed in Norfolk to promote open discussion.
“With the parents, it’s all a personal thing,” she continued, “but there is a lot to consider—the facilities, the administration, the board. I couldn’t tell what anyone wanted, except they didn’t want to come to Norfolk.”
Riiska stressed that at present there is no consolidation committee. “Going forward, there would have to be an actual committee, similar to what we had in 2012,” he said. “But it needs more discussion before that.”
The issue of consolidation or merger has been discussed and rejected for decades, even as enrollment figures have dropped precipitously in both towns. Colebrook currently has 64 elementary students and Norfolk has 59.