South Royalton — This week is the last chance voters in the White River Valley Supervisory Union have to formally discuss a school district merger plan that would see the closing of Chelsea High School, among other changes.

School officials are hosting a series of community meetings — the first was held on Monday in Bethel, the second is scheduled for tonight at 6 p.m. at the South Royalton School, and the third is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Rochester School.

On April 11, voters within the supervisory union will be presented with the reorganization plan, which was undertaken to comply with the state’s Act 46 education reform law.

Act 46 encourages school districts to merge with other districts as a way to address declining enrollment and rising per-pupil costs.

The plan would combine seven existing school districts in Chelsea, Tunbridge, Bethel, Rochester, Royalton Granville and Hancock into three unified school districts.

Three other towns in the union — Sharon, Strafford and Stockbridge — would not be merged, but would instead seek state approval to fit into the White River Valley Supervisory Union as part of a yet-to-be-defined alternative structure.

— Staff report