COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS

By HIS Excellency

FRANCIS W. SARGENT

Governor 

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 83

    WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of our Commonwealth to
promote the educational opportunity of children in our changing
society; and

    WHEREAS, the size and resources of school systems, collabora-
tive arrangements among school systems, and services from state
agencies are important factors in providing at reasonable cost
the full range of educational services required by children; and

    WHEREAS, inequalities of educational opportunity exist be-
cause many school systems are unable to provide a full range of
educational services or to provide them at reasonable cost; and

    WHEREAS, the Advisory Council on Education has caused to
have conducted a preliminary study of school district organiza-
tion in the Commonwealth; and

    WHEREAS, said Council in collaboration with the Board of
Education has developed a plan for a two year study to be
supported by funds appropriated to said Council and involving
broad participation of citizens,

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, Francis W. Sargent, Governor of the
Commonwealth, by virtue of the authority vested in me as
Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows:

    1.  There is hereby created a commission, to be known as
the Governor's Commission to Establish a Comprehensive Plan for
School District Organization and Collaboration to consist of 
twenty-five members appointed by the Governor for a term of two 
years, renewable once, and representing the several regions of
the Commonwealth and a broad spectrum of its citizens.  The
Governor will name one of the appointed members as chairman and
one as vice-chairman.  Upon notification by the chairman of
vacancies, the Governor shall fill such vacancies as occur.

    2.  The commission shall give full attention to the charge
appended to this order and shall seek to fulfill the directions
of the charge in preparing a comprehensive plan for the organi-
zation of educational services.  The commission may form
committees from its own members and may form task forces from
outside its own membership to assist it in gathering information,
in analyzing such information and conditions as exist, and in
formulating conclusions and recommendations.  The commission
shall meet bi-monthly with the exception of the months of July
and August, may hold such additional meetings as the chairman
shall call, and may hold hearings and seminars in various parts
of the Commonwealth.  The commission shall receive the co-
operation of all state departments and agencies including
that of the school systems of the Commonwealth.

    3.  Upon completion of the study and upon request of
the Board of Education, the commission shall continue to
serve in an advisory capacity the said Board for so long 
as said Board shall desire.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston
this tenth day of November in the year of
our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and
seventy-one and of the Independence of the
United States the one hundred and ninety-
sixth.

FRANCIS W. SARGENT
Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

JOHN F. X. DAVOREN
Secretary of the Commonwealth

GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS