Cheshire Selectmen Unhappy With School Budget Process

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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The Selectmen are frustrated at being left out of negotiations between Adams and the regional school district and expressed concern the district was not being funded properly.

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Selectmen accepted a town budget that reflects the lowered Adams-Cheshire Regional School District assessment but were disappointed the district did not include them in negotiations.

Because of recent negotiations with Adams, the district budget has decreased from $19.4 million budget to $19,106,529. It reflects a $93,000 increase from the original Adams budget (costing the town three full-time positions) and $32,000 from Cheshire. Cheshire's assessment is $2,586,477 and a $90,000 override vote will be required to fund the schools.

Selectwoman Carol Francesconi said Cheshire had no idea the district was working with Adams to change the original certified school budget.

"As far as I knew, it was a Cheshire and Adams school district. I didn't like at all the way the budget went this year," Francesoni said. "I thought we weren't included in a lot of the behind-the-scene negotiations that went on with Adams, and I know our district agreement says we pay one-third and they pay two-thirds, but that one-third is as important to us as the two-thirds is to Adams."

Selectman Paul Astorino agreed the budget process was poorly done and last-minute changes to the school budget do not represent the "drop dead budget" that would cut 28 positions the district feared originally. He said if Cheshire made similar cuts as Adams, it would lose half its full-time municipal staff. He said Cheshire does not have this ability.

"Over the years, we have run a tight ship, and we are not out of control like some towns that have more than they need," Astorino said.

Advisory Board member Richard Scholz said his board is also upset it was left out of negotiations with the school and Adams after all the time members put into the budget.

Speaking for himself, he said Cheshire continues to be left out of the process every year and "forced into a corner" by Adams. He suggested forming a committee focused on dissolving the district so Cheshire can join with another town that has similar educational concerns.

Scholz said Cheshire needs to be part of a higher-level school district to attract families to the town if more industry comes to the Berkshires. He said it will be difficult to achieve this connected to Adams.

"If they want to ruin their education, they can," he said. "Our town has no future if we kill our school system. If Adams wants to commit suicide fine. ... We could do better somewhere else."

Francesconi said the town should focus on this year's budget before officials start thinking about the future.

Selectman Robert Ciskowski was concerned about accepting a budget that the School Committee deemed educationally irresponsible.

"We sort of based our whole budget on that number, and I had the mindset that we were going to try to take care of education," he said. "I'm not really sure what the best number actually is now. The School Committee set one, Adams set one, and I don't know which one to believe anymore."

Town Administrator Mark Webber said if Cheshire votes down the override or decides to increase the amount to better fund the school, the budget has to be reopened by the School Committee and voted on again.

In other business, Webber said he has continued discussions with solar array developer Kirt Mayland of Reservoir Road Holdings, based in Avon, Conn., about the proposed .5 megawatt solar array on the Bushika gravel pit property.

He said the pilot program, if accepted at town meeting, will reduce the electricity bill on town-owned property by 20 percent and the town will receive $10,000 a year for 20 years.  

Resident Peter Traub gave the selectmen a citizen's petition that will ask that the town allocate $25,000 to pay for the creation of a master plan.

"I felt it is necessary to do it this year just because it is something that it is important," Traub said. "To wait another year is just waiting another year."

The Selectmen and Webber urged Traub to reconsider because the town cannot afford it. Fracesconi said it would likely fail, but if passed either another override would be needed or the budget would have to be reopened so more could be cut. She said this would force Cheshire to have another town meeting.

Traub said he does not expect the item to pass but just wanted to get the information out in the town. He said residents are interested and concerned about the town, which he has not seen in a while.

Webber suggested an article that only gauged public opinion of funding a master plan, however, Traub said he wanted to give the town the whole package.

He also said that according to the County Retirement Board, Cheshire is responsible for paying 34 percent of 50 percent of the last town administrator's 11 years of service in the system. The administrator retired from Clarksburg and Clarksburg sent Cheshire a bill that reflected a higher number.


Tags: ACRSD,   fiscal 2016,   override,   school budget,   

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Hoosac Valley High School to Stage 'Suessical'

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley High School will showcase their rendition of "Suessical," a musical based on the tales of Dr. Seuss by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty.
 
The performances are scheduled for Friday, March 15 at 7 pm, and Saturday, March 16 at 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online via the provided link. Prices are $8 for students and $10 for adults.
 
Directed by Rebecca Koczela and Amanda Watroba, the production features around 50 students participating as actors, pit band musicians, and backstage and tech crews. Notably, this year's cast includes several middle school students who have joined the high school production, marking their first experience performing on stage.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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