Once again voters have had their say in Whitingham, and once again they have shown their support for the Twin Valley School District. Wednesday’s vote defeated an effort to dissolve the collaboration by an even wider margin than the November 2006 vote.

What does it mean for residents and students in Whitingham, Wilmington, and the surrounding towns? First and foremost, the valley’s only high school will continue in its present configuration, at least for the foreseeable future. Sure, there are many legitimate questions concerning the physical plant in Wilmington. But the programs of Twin Valley are the true measure of the school, and those have been reaffirmed.

What should voters in Whitingham take away from the results? For those who supported the petition and the breakup of Twin Valley, first should be a long, honest look in the mirror. The voters in town have now spoken, not once, not twice, but three times. Each time the support for Twin Valley has strengthened, not weakened. This last vote, a mere 30 months after the November 2006 vote, had more voters participate than the 2006 vote, 410 compared to 399, and a wider margin of defeat for the breakup question, 110-300 compared to 127-272 in 2006. It’s time to realize Twin Valley is the future of education in Whitingham and stop clinging to the past. It’s time to give up the fight, and accept that Twin Valley is what the majority of voters in Whitingham want.

After the 2006 vote, we wrote in this space:

“For those who worked so hard on the School Choice Committee, there’s plenty of other things to get worked up over, when it comes to schools. Take that energy and put it in places where it will do us all some good: work with state officials on reforming education funding and property tax policy; work with Twin Valley on improving curriculum so the perceived benefits of school choice can be brought here. For those who supported the school, realize that the folks who brought the vote were well-meaning, with the best interests of their town in mind.

“At this point it would be counterproductive to continue railing against Twin Valley. We urge all to move on, and let the school develop. Keep a watchful eye on it if you must, there’s nothing wrong with that. But the time for acceptance and reconciliation is at hand.

“Twin Valley has been affirmed.”

Now, in 2009, voters have delivered an even clearer message. Twin Valley continues. It’s time to focus on the future.