Many Massachusetts towns are considering school mergers

From The Boston Globe: Under growing pressure from state officials, small public school systems across Massachusetts are discussing potential mergers, forsaking the tradition of local schools and hometown identity in a quest for greater financial stability. For the first time in nearly a decade, several towns recently joined ranks to create new regional districts. But many towns are deeply conflicted over the idea, uneasy with the prospect of relinquishing local control and fond of their schools the way they are.