A study group to look at regional school district agreement, including what are the steps and process of leaving the district is really no different that the stone bridge study group. It is simply looking at options and the process, whatever it might be, for a town to withdraw from a regional school district. It is not really anything to lose sleep over. Perhaps one thing that will be brought to light is the fact Phillipston selectmen have ignored the agreement completely.

Section VIII in both the 1977 and 2004 versions reads in part:

"Any such proposal for amendment shall be presented to the Secretary of the Regional District School Committee, who shall mail or deliver a notice in writing to the Board of Selectmen of

each of the member towns that a proposal to amend this agreement has been received and shall enclose a copy of such proposal. The Selectmen in each member town shall include in the warrant for the next Special Town Meeting called for the purpose, an article stating the proposal or substance thereof."

Phillipston refused to put it on the warrant for the 2023 Annual Town Meeting. Look at 2024 Annual Town meeting, it was not on the warrant to be considered. The Department of Education has advised that the last agreed upon Regional Agreement remains in place in situations such as these. The district has been in front of the Templeton capital planning committee for a couple things for TES. In short, the last agreed upon Regional Agreement (District, DESE, Templeton, Phillipston) uses the $5,000 threshold. The Draft Regional Agreement's has a threshold of $15,000 which needs Phillipston to put before its voters to either approve or vote down. If voted down, then a RACC needs to be reinstated to discuss the issues that Phillipston has with the draft.

As of right now, they are in violation of any of the Regional Agreements you pick (draft or prior).

Since Templeton is an 85% stake holder in district and the owner of the new elementary school, I believe it to be a good option to look at our options.