Adams-Cheshire School Committee Accepts New Budget
 The School Committee agreed to a lower budget on Monday after a compromise was made with the town of Adams. |
ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee voted to adopt a new fiscal 2016 school budget that reflects the increased amount Adams agreed to give the schools.
The new budget would reduce the number of positions lost from 28 to 12.
The committee voted Monday night to change the proposed $19.4 million budget to $19,106,529 to reflect a $93,000 increase from the original Adams budget and $32,000 from Cheshire. This changes the total Adams assessment to $5,521,469 and Cheshire's to $2,586,477.
"I think this is very nice compromise form the towns," Chairwoman Darlene Rodowicz said. "It still leaves us in a point that is not ideal, but I think it did require many years to get to this point and it will take the good-faith efforts on all parties' parts to try to find our way out of it over time."
Last Wednesday, the Adams Selectmen voted to amend its approved budget to reflect a 6 percent increase to the school budget, 2 percent more than the original budget. By cutting three full-time positions, Adams can proved the district with more funds, while keeping the town's budget under the levy limit.
Although the added funds would save near half of the 28 proposed staff cuts, the district will still lose four teachers and eight paraprofessionals and have fewer services and resources than this school year.
Rodowicz said raising taxes to level the school budget for one year would not fix the overarching problems the district and the town faces, however, the compromise marks a shift to where the school and town will work together to find a way to properly fund its children's education.
"He [Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco] has developed a wonderful working relationship with [Superintendent] Kristen [Gordon]," she said. "He has been very flexible and creative in ways to help out our district … and I do think over a period of time he has a belief in the rebuilding of the school district."
Gordon said the whole process has brought the schools and towns closer together. She said the Adams DPW may be able to fix some of the maintenance issues in the schools as well as help plow to save money. She said they are also looking for opportunities to share resources between the district and town.
"There is a real strong belief and connection to the school district," Gordon said. "I am feeling it from all over the community."
The proposed budget would still trigger an override vote for Cheshire. If Cheshire votes it down, the budget would go back to the School Committee. If voted down again, the budget would go to a district wide vote.
Gordon said the curriculum director position, which was added to the budget by request of the state, will be filled by C.T. Plunkett School reading coach Jill Pompi.
"I just can't think of anyone more qualified to move the district forward who knows the district, that knows where we were, and where we need to go," Gordon said. "I just felt whoever sat in front of me would not be up in running the way she would be up in running."
Other applicants were qualified, but were not from the area, she said, feeling that by hiring someone from the inside it is more likely she will stay in the position.
"I felt as though we have had a bit of a revolving door with our administration, and that's been making me really nervous," she said. "I need this position to work, and I knew with Jill I would be getting a sure bet."
She said interviews for the technology director will begin next Tuesday and Pompi's old position will also be advertised.
Gordon also advocated for changing future prom dates to Sunday to avoid the track and field individuals meet. This year, prom and the meet fall on the same day.
"It seems like this happens every single year and for the track coach it is sort of like the Western Mass football game," she said. "It is a big race and now we have kids trying to choose between the prom and individuals."
Tags: #adamsbudget, ACRSD, fiscal 2016, school budget,
