Clarksburg School Draft Budget Up 6 Percent For 2016

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
01:01AM / Tuesday, February 10, 2015Print Story | Email Story

The School Committee reviewed a draft budget for fiscal 2016 on Thursday.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — School officials are dealing with a 6 percent increase in the draft budget for 2016.

The budget plan distributed by Superintendent Jonathan Lev last Thursday had a bottom line of $2,567,736, up $144,782 over this year.

Major hikes include salaries, insurance, tuition and energy costs.

Lev told the School Committee that the line item for teachers' salaries included the contracted 2 percent raise for a total of $762,146, up $51,000.

Two percent had also been added in for non-union employees, dependent upon approval by the School Committee.

"It's not carved in stone," said Lev.

The principal's salary is entered at $82,233, the figure it ended at last year with the retirement of Linda Reardon; the actual amount will be dependent upon negotiations with a new principal.

Staffing is down by a paraprofessional but up by two to three aides, a $10,000 increase over this year. One post has been a cut and another may be reduced.

"We are not planning on any new staff," said Lev.

Health insurance is up $27,000 to $302,940, based on Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association estimates of a 10 percent increase.

Internet is up $4,500 because the school recently signed on with Crocker Communications; that price is expected drop next year. The technology line item is $7,000 to purchase about 30 Chromebooks.

Preschool tuition is at $12,000; out-of-district placements rose from about $99,000 to $142,000. Lev also built in a 3 percent increase in high school tuition based on past experience. The total cost will depend on which schools the students choose.

"It's been a 3 percent increase every year I've been here," he said. "I haven't gotten the increase from North Adams, but I think you can bank on 3 percent."

The last page of the budget — tuition, placement and insurance — is $64,000 of the overall budget increase.

Last year, the school budget was slashed by $50,000 and plans for a preschool put on hold as the town struggled to close a budget gap.

"Again, this a draft," said Lev. "Obviously, we will be having a conversation with the Finance Committee and we'll keep working at things like tuition and probably more staffwise in the aide category."

Tags: Clarksburg School, fiscal 2016, school budget,

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Clarksburg School Committee Considers Lowering Paid Time Off Payout Threshold

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
06:27AM / Wednesday, October 07, 2026

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The School Committee will review its paid time off payout policy and potentially lower the minimum service requirement for employees to collect a payout upon leaving.

The conversation began at an Oct. 1 meeting, where the committee requested that a recently retired employee receive his full payout even though he served 16 years rather than meeting the current 20-year threshold.

"I think 20 years is a lot for people," School Committee member Cindy Brule said. "I think we need a number that is more realistic."

Assistant Superintendent Tara Barnes noted that this is another instance where Clarksburg's municipal policy differs from the school's. Most municipal employees in Clarksburg can collect a payout after 10 years of service.

The employee in question was Mike Peters, a recently retired custodian who sought to cash in on 87 sick days and three personal days.

"If he had taken those days over the 16 years, it would have caused disruption," School Committee member Dan Haskins said after supporting the payout.

In Principal Kimberly Rougeau's report, she shared that the school year has started smoothly and that staff have completed several professional development sessions.

Rougeau added that the school is essentially fully staffed. She welcomed new physical education teacher Heather Gray as well as Pat Wood, the new Special Education and 504 Coordinator. She noted that Gray is also a speech-language pathologist who can assist with the school's caseload, adding that both hires have "hit the ground running."

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