Our Schools, Our Businesses, Our Community

The Mad River Valley is facing some difficult decisions about the future of our elementary schools. These decisions will have profound implications for our children, our families, our businesses and the communities we call home.

The Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce recognizes the extraordinary challenge facing the Harwood Unified Union School Board as it considers school consolidation and potential closures. We appreciate the tremendous amount of time, energy and thought that board members, administrators and community volunteers have devoted to this process. There are no easy answers, and we recognize that any decision will be painful for some members of our community.

First and foremost, these decisions must be guided by what is best for our children and their educational outcomes. That is, after all, the fundamental purpose of our public schools. We trust that the school board is working to balance that responsibility with the financial realities facing our district and the communities it serves.

At the same time, we believe it is important to recognize that our schools are much more than places where children learn. They are fundamental building blocks of our communities, and their presence contributes directly to the economic and social vitality of the Mad River Valley.

As the organization representing businesses throughout the Valley, the Chamber has a responsibility to consider how decisions of this magnitude may affect our local economy, our workforce and the long-term sustainability of our communities.

Schools and Economic Vitality Are Closely Connected

One of the greatest challenges facing businesses in the Mad River Valley is attracting and retaining employees. Housing affordability, childcare availability and the overall cost of living already make it difficult for working families to establish themselves here.

Our local elementary schools are an important part of what makes the Valley an attractive place to raise a family. They help create the sense of community that draws people here and encourages them to stay.

When a family considers moving to the Mad River Valley, the quality and accessibility of our schools are often central to that decision. When an employer is trying to recruit a new employee, the availability of a strong local school system can be an important consideration.

And when young families choose to put down roots here, they become more than residents. They become customers of our local businesses, employees, volunteers, taxpayers and active participants in the life of our communities.

Our schools also contribute to the vitality of our villages and town centers. The daily activity associated with a neighborhood school brings families into the community, creates opportunities for interaction and helps support the businesses and institutions that make our towns vibrant.

These relationships are not always easily quantified in a financial analysis, but they are real and deserve consideration.

A Decision That Extends Beyond Town Lines

One of the defining characteristics of the Mad River Valley is that, while we are made up of distinct towns with their own histories and identities, we function in many ways as a single interconnected community.

Our residents live in one town, work in another, shop in a third and participate in activities throughout the Valley. Our businesses serve customers from every community, and our economic wellbeing is deeply intertwined.

That is why the Chamber believes the potential impacts of school consolidation should be considered from a Valley-wide perspective.

The closure of an elementary school in any of our towns would represent a significant change, not only for the families directly affected but for the broader community. It could influence patterns of travel, family routines, community participation and the long-term attractiveness of particular neighborhoods and villages.

We recognize that maintaining our existing school infrastructure comes with significant costs and that the district faces difficult financial realities. Those concerns are legitimate and cannot be ignored. At the same time, the potential long-term economic and community consequences of school closures deserve thoughtful consideration alongside educational and financial factors.

Respecting the Process and Each Other

We also recognize that this discussion has generated strong feelings throughout the Valley. That is understandable. Our schools are deeply personal institutions, and their future touches nearly every aspect of community life.

The Chamber encourages residents and business owners to stay informed, participate in public discussions and share their perspectives respectfully and constructively.

We especially encourage members of our business community to consider how these decisions may affect their employees, their customers and the long-term economic health of the Valley, and to make those perspectives known through the school board’s public process.

Equally important, we encourage everyone to recognize the difficult position in which our elected school board members find themselves.

These are our neighbors and fellow community members who have taken on the responsibility of making extraordinarily consequential decisions. They deserve our appreciation for their service and our respect as they navigate a process in which there may be no outcome that satisfies everyone.

Reasonable people can disagree about the best path forward while still sharing a common commitment to our children and the future of our communities.

Looking Beyond the Decision

Whatever the final outcome, the Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce remains committed to supporting the businesses and communities affected by these changes.

If schools close, we will need to work together to understand and address the impacts on our villages, our workforce and our local economy. If schools remain open, we must continue working collectively to address the broader challenges of affordability, enrollment and the sustainability of our communities.

In either case, the Chamber stands ready to collaborate with our towns, the school district, local organizations and the business community to help ensure that the Mad River Valley remains a place where families can thrive and businesses can succeed.

Our schools, our businesses and our communities are not separate interests. They are interconnected parts of what makes the Mad River Valley such a special place.

We owe it to our children, and to future generations, to approach these decisions with compassion, respect and a shared commitment to the long-term vitality of the entire Valley.