The West Tisbury selectmen recently received the final report of the committee those selectmen created to develop a new allocation formula for the Up-Island regional school district. I am writing as a member of the committee, but not on behalf of the committee. As such I am urging the selectmen of West Tisbury to approve this new allocation formula and take the steps necessary to seek its adoption by the school district.

Since the day the up-Island district was created, the taxpayers of West Tisbury have believed that they were unduly burdened by the expense of operating two schools (the Chilmark School and the West Tisbury School), since the West Tisbury School is under utilized and could easily accommodate each and every child residing in the district.

The new allocation formula that the selectmen now have before them has three steps:

• Establish the cost of operating the Chilmark School (operating, principal/interest and short-term borrowing).

• Assess these costs to the taxpayers of Chilmark.

• Determine the cost of operating the West Tisbury School based on the number of students who reside in the district and attend district schools. Allocate this cost among taxpayers based on each town’s student attendance in the district.

Using this allocation formula, based on the projected fiscal year 2018 district budget, West Tisbury’s budget allocation would be reduced by $721,123, Aquinnah’s budget allocation would be reduced by $154,281 and the Chilmark budget allocation would increase by $875,405.

This allocation formula honors the desire of Chilmark taxpayers to operate their own school, does not increase or decrease the total budget for the up-Island district, and importantly, does not in any way threaten the reputation of the district for providing a superb education for its youngsters.

It is my hope that the taxpayers, voters and residents of West Tisbury join me in urging the selectmen to vote to adopt the formula as their position in upcoming conversations with Chilmark and Aquinnah officials. If the up-Island school district is to continue, it is imperative that responsible fiscal governance be implemented.

Susan Silk
West Tisbury