Following the Durham public hearing on establishing a Consolidated School District with Lisbon, some complained that the presentation and data were “slanted.”

What if, in a different scenario, reputable scientific research overwhelmingly supported a conclusion that a product was safe but officials chose not to approve it due to minor side effects? Our standard of living would be significantly reduced and progress stunted.

The research and data clearly support the establishment of a CSD with Lisbon.

Lisbon’s high school data show impressive, positive results from the last five years of focused and thoughtful reform initiatives. With a CSD, our students would have a high school (no longer second-class renters elsewhere), we would be active partners in the creation and governance of a state-of-the-art high school, and this would have a lower cost to the town.

I understand that parents of the kids impacted by the grandfathering issue are upset with this negative side effect. However, unsubstantiated attacks on the data and Lisbon is like blocking a product that will serve the general population positively well into the future.

For the few classes impacted by grandfathering, this feels devastating. It is an emotional issue and is hard for people to believe that there are options to mitigate the impact or that kids do survive switching high schools.

As a town, although sympathetic, we cannot allow the vocal minority concerned with this “side effect” to block this wonderful opportunity for our students and town.

Jeff Darling, Durham

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