Williamstown School Budget Numbers Up 4 Percent

	Superintendent Rose Ellis presents Principal Joelle Brookner with a citation from the state Senate congratulating the school community on a stuffed animal drive.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Williamstown School Committee on Wednesday got its first look at the preliminary budget for fiscal 2014.

The school is facing estimated spending increases in the amount of about $246,000, which would represent a 4 percent increase over 2013 levels.

The school district's business director, David Donoghue, presented the initial budget numbers at the committee's regular monthly meeting, which moved this month to the library of the elementary school.

Not surprisingly, more than half of the proposed increase would come from the largest piece of the $6.3 million budget: salaries for instructional staff.

Wages for regular education and special education teachers and paraprofessionals are projected to rise by 4.2 percent to about $3.5 million. The increase is because of step increases, longevity, cost of living adjustments and educational movement, Superintendent Rose Ellis told the committee.

The other cost centers also would see increases under the proposed budget — ranging from a 3.4 percent rise for the salaries of other staff (a $12,000 rise to $336,0000) to a 12.5 percent rise for transportation costs (a $20,000 increase to $185,000).

The second-biggest cost center in the budget — benefits to employees — is projected to rise by 5 percent ($53,000) to just more than $1 million. But Ellis said the increase (attributable mostly to health insurance) is not as bad as other years.

"That's a small increase for us," she said. "That's amazing. I can actually remember a 26 percent increase [at WES]."

Even with the relatively modest 4 percent overall increase in anticipated expenditures and an expected increase in tax revenues, the district anticipates a shortfall of $118,000.

The town of Williamstown anticipates about a 2.4 percent increase in its appropriation to the school, Ellis told the committee. But even an extra $128,000 from the town over 2013 still will not close the gap.

To make up the difference, the administration proposes drawing on non-appropriated revenues from school-choice students. In the current year, WES has 41 school-choice students, which generate $205,000 in revenue for the district.

"From 2007 to now, we weathered the recession, and it hasn't impacted the school," she said. "We haven't had to reduce staff. It's because we've done the economies of scale.

"We keep our eye on [sustainability] very carefully."

Donoghue stressed the preliminary nature of the budget numbers he provided on Wednesday night.

The School Committee plans a public hearing to discuss updated budget numbers at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 16, before its regularly scheduled 7 p.m. business meeting. Representatives of the committee will meet with representatives of the town's Finance Committee to review the budget on March 28, and the WES Committee will cast its final vote on the proposed budget on April 10 before it goes to May's town meeting.

In other business on Wednesday night, the committee appointed two of its members, Caplinger and Chairwoman Margaret McComish, to serve on the new committee exploring expanded regionalization in the Mount Greylock Regional School District. The district is looking to expand to include the K-through-6 schools in Williamstown and Lanesborough, the two towns that currently belong to the 7-through-12 regional district.

The committee also was informed of a special citation from the state Senate recognizing the generosity of WES students in supporting a stuffed-animal drive initiated by two WES alumnae and current Mount Greylock students, Kat Chenail and Emily Kaegi.

Ellis told the committee that the citation came about after Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, read about the toy drive in an article on iBerkshires.com.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.