By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

BRITTON — It could have been the tornado warnings, or it could have been that residents feel they already know what they need to know for the Tuesday, Aug. 3, Britton/Deerfield consolidation vote. Either way, the informational meeting held last Thursday in the Britton-Macon Area School cafetorium was sparsely attended.

Still, Britton/Deerfield Supt. Chuck Pelham, along with members of both the Britton-Macon Area School and Deerfield Schools boards of trustees, shared consolidation information with those who attended, and he fielded questions about the process of consolidation.

The key piece of information was the $800,784 in savings the districts would see should the consolidation pass. According to Pelham, that savings would not be realized under a shared services agreement such as the one the district is entering into come fall regardless of whether the referendum passes. Administratively, the district consolidation saves money in student support, bus operations, policy management, meal programs, audits, legal services as well as maintenance. Under shared services, however, these items remain with each school district separately.

Staffing and debt were key concerns raised. One audience member inquired about the rehiring of teachers. Should the consolidation pass, the new district will essentially be restructured starting from scratch. An interim board will be appointed by the Lenawee Intermediate School District and new staff contracts will have to be drawn. Staff will be hired beginning with the superintendent. The concern was that teachers would lose their years of service to the districts they currently serve or that younger teachers would be brought in to replace the higher paid seasoned teachers. Pelham reassured those at the meeting that neither would happen.

“Kids come here for the teachers,” he said. “I think it would be suicide to lose teachers like that.”

However, he did say that staffing needs will figure into the rehiring.

Pelham broke down the budget figures for both schools, should the measure not pass, showing both schools out of money in the next couple of years based on current student enrollment and current revenues and expenditures. This year, Britton saw a $130,000 deficit. While Pelham attributes that primarily to the purchase of two buses through a matching grant, he also notes the $165 per student proration of the school aid fund last school year and projects further state cuts in the coming school year.

“Where I’m most afraid,” said Pelham, “is on the business side. Forget about the consolidation for a minute. The state has given us stimulus money. What happens next year when the stimulus money is all gone?”

He added that should the consolidation not go through programs like fine arts, physical education and business classes would likely see cuts.

The consolidation will not impact property taxes for residents. Pelham made clear that each district will retain their respective debts. Britton’s levies a total of 4.35 mills for two bond issues in 2000 and 2006. Deerfield levies 2.3 mills that will be retired in 2017. Pelham said once the districts merge, only future measures would impact all taxpayers in the Britton/Deerfield consolidated district. He added, however, that the districts could vote in three years to merge the debts, but he didn’t see it happening.

Combined, the district enrollment will be 850. Pelham said the district plans to provide transportation between school districts. There will be no change in athletics.

Kendra Goody was one of the few Britton parents with children still attending the school who attended the meeting. She’s served on the community outreach committee for the consolidation effort.

“I just think it’s a positive thing. We really don’t have a choice. It’s an emotional thing, I think, because you just can’t help thinking, ‘What’s going to happen to the kids if this doesn’t go through?’” she said.

Should the measure fail, the boards will go to the polls again in November. Britton Board President Liz Roe said that if it fails then the districts will continued shared services until the money runs out.

“Part of our fear as a board is that the majority of people see this as positive, so people may have the opinion that this is going to pass and my not come out to vote. We need every vote. Every votes counts. It has to pass in both communities or it doesn’t happen,” said Deerfield School Board Treasure Lucy Pirolli.

The polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 3. Britton voters will cast ballots at the Ridgeway Township Hall, 103 E. Chicago Boulevard, in Britton. Deerfield voters go to the polls at the Deerfield Township Hall, 468 Carey Street in Deerfield.