EGREMONT—The neighboring school districts of Berkshire Hills and Southern Berkshire have made it clear that formal discussions of a potential district merger will begin this fall.

Currently, municipalities are selecting representatives who will have a seat at the table in the town-centric conversations toward consolidation.

In Egremont, George McGurn, current select board chairman, and Tom Berkel, a current member of the finance committee, will serve as municipal representatives, which was decided at the Friday, Aug. 30 select board meeting.

“I’ve been very much for not limiting the discussions to just the high school and that it really should be comprehensive with everything,” said McGurn. “People have assumed that means I am pro-consolidation. I am pro putting all the cards on the table and discussing it rationally.”

Although Berkel was not in attendance, select board member Lucinda Fenn-Vermeulen said she would speak on his behalf about where he stands on the topic.

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