Two of Connecticut’s smallest cities are looking into combining their school districts. Folks from Derby and Ansonia will sit down for their second regionalization meeting on Monday night.
The two districts are spending a lot of money to educate fewer and fewer kids. Ansonia’s schools just laid off 17 teachers. Derby High School only graduated a few dozen kids this year. A meeting tonight will bring the two districts one step closer to combining.
“It would save millions of dollars for both communities, I mean it’s really a no-brainer,” said Ansonia’s Republican Mayor, David Cassetti.
Cassetti even had hats made up with an A and D in Derby red on a background of Ansonia blue. Last month was the first meeting of the committee to study the regionalization idea. Tonight is the second one.
“We got $168,000 from the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments and we’re going to proceed,” Cassetti said. “Everything is in the small stages right now of getting things organized.”
Ansonia was part of Derby until 1889. The population of Derby and Ansonia combined is around 31,000, which is about the same size as Naugatuck. Their school population is shrinking. This year’s graduating class at Derby High School could have easily fit inside two school buses.
Supporters say the merger could save taxpayers as much as $10 million and lead to more options for students. If they do decide to merge, Ansonia High would become the combined Ansonia-Derby High School. Any action would have to be approved by voters in both cities.
At Derby’s Valley Diner, most people eating breakfast agreed that regionalization is the way to go.
“Collaboration is the key today,” said Derby resident Tony D’Onofrio. “Connecticut needs more collaboration amongst the towns because of the fiscal hurt that the state is in.”
Some say the one thing that might block the merger is the long-standing football rivalry between the two towns. Fans of both teams say the time for that has run out.
“It was a rivalry back in the 50s and 60s and 70s and even part of the early 80s, but it hasn’t been significant in the last 25 years,” Cassetti said.
If you want to speak out, the meeting is set to begin at 7:00 p.m. at Ansonia High School. More meetings are planned for August 27th in Derby, and September 24th in Ansonia.
