Is It Possible North Branford May Join Branford School System?

NORTH BRANFORD, CT - The talk of merging smaller school systems in the state has been the source of lots of talk at the state Capitol in recent weeks. The discussion has been fueled by the need for the state to try and figure a way out of its multi-billion budget deficit it faces going forward.

The talk has people in North Branford - as one of the state's smaller towns - concerned. At a recent meeting of the Town Council, State Rep. Vincent Candelora talked about the issue at length.

The good news for those worried, Candelora said, is that regionalization is not likely to happen anytime soon in North Branford. There are just too many issues - mostly with the amount of time it would take to transport North Branford students to a neighboring school district.

For those wondering, if and when it ever came to the point of merging with a neighboring town's school system, Candelora said the most likely candidate would be Branford.

Read below for some more of Candelora's comments on the issue.

Candelora said he beliees that a statewide task force needs to be set up to see "what towns may be amenable to regionalization."

He said he doesn't see regionalization happening anytime soon because "there are too many factor, such as having young children on buses for an hour and a half, which is not appropriate."

Candelora said one issue that can't be denied, however, is that as a state school-age population is declining. He said forced regionalization may be an issue down the road - "5 to 10 years" from now, if not longer.

Candelora said what is likely to happen in the meantime, though is that efforts to regionalize services across town lines in an effort to save money and staff could accelerate.

Candelora said it would be wise for the town of North Branford, on its own to be a leader in finding savings, efficienicies on its own - which in and of itself would make it less likely a target for regionalization.

When and if the day comes - again years down the road, Candelora said, that regionalization ever did occur, the contiguous town that likely makes the most geographically is Branford.