Voters Weigh In on Proposed School Closures in Calais and Wooster

Washington County residents decide fate of two small elementary schools facing declining enrollment and budget pressures.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Voters in Washington County, Vermont are deciding whether to close two small elementary schools in the towns of Worcester and Calais as the Washington Central Unified Union School District grapples with declining enrollment and budget pressures. The school board voted in December to recommend the closures, but residents have mixed feelings about the future of their community schools.

Why it matters

The proposed school closures highlight the challenges facing small, rural school districts across the country as they navigate declining student populations and tightening budgets. The decisions will impact the local communities and their sense of identity, as well as the educational opportunities available to students.

The details

The Washington Central Unified Union School District school board voted in December to recommend closing the elementary schools in Worcester and Calais, both of which have fewer than 100 students. If the closures are approved, Worcester students would move to Rumney Memorial School in Middlesex, and Calais students to East Montpelier Elementary. Sixth graders in the district would also move to U-32 in the 2027-2028 school year. The district has already budgeted for the school closures, and if the vote fails, the approved budget will be reallocated across five elementary schools instead of three.

  • The school board voted in December 2025 to recommend the school closures.
  • Voters are deciding on the proposed closures on Monday, February 10, 2026.
  • If approved, the school closures would take effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
  • Sixth graders in the district would move to U-32 in the 2027-2028 school year.

The players

Washington Central Unified Union School District

The school district serving Washington County, Vermont that is proposing the closure of two small elementary schools due to declining enrollment and budget pressures.

Flor Diaz-Smith

Chair of the Washington Central Unified Union School District Board, who stated the district needs to use its finite resources responsibly for students.

Steven Dellinger-Pate

Superintendent of the Washington Central Unified Union School District, who said the district wants both communities to feel connected to their new schools after the proposed closures.

Karen Wiseman

A Worcester resident who moved there 14 years ago because of the small elementary school, and is emotional about the proposed closure.

Clyde Cole

A longtime Worcester resident who thinks consolidation is the right choice, and recommends building a new centralized elementary school.

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What they’re saying

“Everybody in the community has come together and really, really thoroughly educated each other. And yeah, the fact that we even have to make these decisions is kind of heartbreaking for our kids and for our town and for our state.”

— Karen Wiseman, Worcester resident (WCAX)

“We have finite resources that we need to use them responsibly for our students.”

— Flor Diaz-Smith, WCUUSD Board Chair (WCAX)

“My recommendation would've been, let's build a new centralized elementary school and close out the existing ones.”

— Clyde Cole, Worcester resident (WCAX)

“We do want both communities as they come together with the communities to feel like it's their school and that it's everybody's school.”

— Steven Dellinger-Pate, WCUUSD Superintendent (WCAX)

What’s next

If the proposed school closures are approved, Worcester students would move to Rumney Memorial School in Middlesex, and Calais students to East Montpelier Elementary starting in the 2026-2027 school year. Sixth graders in the district would also move to U-32 in the 2027-2028 school year.

The takeaway

The proposed school closures in Calais and Worcester highlight the difficult decisions facing small, rural school districts as they grapple with declining enrollment and budget pressures. The outcomes will impact the local communities and the educational opportunities available to students, underscoring the need for creative solutions to sustain quality public education in these areas.