ROXBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – A judge Tuesday heard arguments in the case against the Montpelier Roxbury Public School District over how its Town Meeting Day school budget vote was conducted.
Roxbury officials say a budget informational meeting was held for voters last month after voting had already begun, preventing voters from having access to the information before the start of voting, which they say ultimately led to the failed budget on Town Meeting Day.
The town wants the court to cancel the upcoming budget revote and rescind the decision to close the school. “It’s central to the community. The town hall is there, everybody loves the school, and the kids are really going to miss out. And I think the harm is not speculative your honor, the harm is set in stone,” said Miles Stafford, an attorney representing the town.
“The district did not undertake this decision lightly. Roxbury has been an important part of what the district has done since there was a merger, and to close the school is a difficult decision to undertake,” said Pietro Lynn, a lawyer for the school district.
A decision is expected this week. Meanwhile, in a resolution approved Monday night, the district admitted it made a mistake in not holding the informational meeting earlier. Vermont election law says that’s all they need to do in a dispute like this.