Letter to the Editor of the Hollis-Brookine Journal

Important Special Meeting on Apportionment - Voting on January 12, 2015
The Hollis Brookline Cooperative School District is holding a special meeting on January 12, 2015 at 7:00p.m. in the Hollis Brookline High School gymnasium, to vote on a warrant article for a new formula to apportion the costs of the cooperative schools between the towns of Hollis and Brookline. We encourage all citizens of Hollis and Brookline to attend the meeting, understand the apportionment process, and to vote. If the article is approved it will remain in place for 5 years. In December of 2013, the COOP school board approved the formation of an Apportionment Committee to analyze the current formula (100% Average Daily Membership (ADM) that is currently in place) and make recommendations for change, if necessary. An Apportionment Committee was formed in April 2014 made up of 6 Brookline residents and 6 Hollis residents. The Committee met publicly every 2 weeks from April to November to discuss the matter and included public input at all meetings. The recommended formula is 95% ADM / 5% Equalized Evaluation (EV) on operating expenses and 100% EV on bonded costs. The COOP school board voted in November to support this formula and placed it on a warrant article to be voted on January 12, 2015. This change in apportionment formula will have the following impact for Hollis and Brookline’s Coop portion of their tax bill: Brookline: decrease of $0.94 x $1,000 (of assessed value) or a decrease of $257/year ($273,000 average home) Hollis: increase of $0.40 x $1,000 (of assessed value) or an increase of $165/year ($410,000 average home) The COOP school board supports the continuation of the Hollis Brookline Cooperative School District. The Coop District provides exceptional academic and extracurricular programs at a cost below the state average. We believe that this compromise in the Apportionment formula balances the considerations of both communities, while promoting the continuation of the Coop. If a compromise approach cannot be reached both communities will be looking toward dissolving the Cooperative School District. The dissolution of the COOP school district will result in the loss of academic and extracurricular programs, an uncertain academic path for Brookline students, the increase in property taxes for both towns and an almost certain decline in the property values in both Brookline and Hollis. The continuation in the Coop is in the best interest of everyone. The COOP school board encourages all taxpayers to go to sau41.org (only official site of school district) to see data and presentations. Please plan to attend the Special Apportionment Meeting on January 12, 2015 and vote yes to support your COOP. Thank you, Gina Bergskaug, Liz Brown, Cindy Van Coughnett and Krista Whalen (COOP School Board Members)

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