LYNDEBOROUGH – Students at the cooperative elementary school should know a lot more about the history of their towns and Wilton Heritage Commission Member Deborah Mortvedt is proposing a way to remedy that – get them acquainted with the Historical Societies in their towns.

She approached the School Board on Aug. 8 at their regular meeting at the Central School.

She is a Friend of the Wilton Library and while working there with a group of high school students doing their community service, she learned that none of them had ever visited the Historical Rooms and one had never been in the library before.

“I’d love to see more parents use those rooms,” she said, to see the artifacts, pictures and other information stored there.

Since fourth grade is when students typically learn local history, she proposed a program for that age.

“A walking tour of the downtown,” she said, displaying a brochure prepared by the Historical Society. “And Lyndeborough could come up with one.

“Students would have the opportunity to choose something, a building, or an event, and research it for a project. The Historical Rooms have a wealth of information,” she said. “And it would cost the taxpayers nothing.”

Board Chairman Harry Dailey said, “It’s a great idea to work it into the curriculum.”

The Lyndeborough Heritage Commission has agreed to join the project.

The school board also discussed the recent study charrette held by the Wilton Economic Development Committee. Both Dailey and Superintendent Bryan Lane attended the event.

Lane said, while he had heard nothing really negative about the schools, “they weren’t part of the focus. We need to work collaboratively with the committee, highlight the schools, work more with the town. Develop our brand.”

“There are some very old concerns people have about the school district. We have to get the positive information out, the changes that have been made,” Dailey said.

Member Alex LoVerme said, “More information is getting out, and that is good.”

It was agreed that the schools need to publicize their events more, make their activities more visible. Both principals, Tom O’Connell at Florence Rideout and Brian Bagley at the middle-high school agreed the publicity was needed and to “do better about that.”

O’Connell said the Summer Institute, a voluntary program being held at the Central School for students who need reinforcement during the summer is going well and well attended.

Lane said most staff positions have been filled.