Adams-Cheshire Officials To Meet With Annoyed Cheshire Selectmen
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — Adams-Cheshire Regional School District Superintendent Kristen Gordon said it was never anyone's intention to keep Cheshire out of last-minute budget negotiations with Adams.
The Cheshire Selectmen said they were out of the loop when Adams and school officials agreed to a reduction of the approved school budget. The new assessment will cost Adams $93,000 more than it had planned — along with three positions — but will prevent an override.
Cheshire officials, in contrast, had expected to present town meeting a budget that school officials said was critical to preserving educational standards.
At the School Committee meeting Monday, Gordon said the communication breakdown was caused by the speed and uncertainty of final budget alterations. Neither she nor the School Committee knew exactly what Adams Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco was going to offer. She said she was also unsure if it would be accepted by the Adams Selectmen and the School Committee.
"I feel like we tried to stay in contact with Cheshire, but it happened so fast and we weren't quite sure what the next move was going to be," Gordon said. "This happened all within five days, and up until that point we had excellent communication."
Gordon said she was asked by Cheshire when she was hired to report all business to a liaison, which was done within this five-to-six-day time period. However, she said the liaison must have not had time to report to the Selectmen.
School Committee Chairwoman Darlene Rodowicz said she understood why Cheshire would be upset. She attributed the limited contact because Mazzucco initiated the process and the tight time frame.
"Cheshire wasn't invited to the table, and I think if I were a Cheshire selectman I too would feel a little disappointed," Rodowicz said. "Again it was the rapidity at which this all this transpired that really created this situation, but I would imagine Cheshire could very well feel slighted, and we wouldn't want that."
Gordon agreed with Rodowicz and said she should have not assumed that Cheshire was not interested in joint meetings with Adams because when initially asked they refused. She also said when she met Mazzucco and Rodowicz to further discussions on the budget Mazzucco quickly reached out to Cheshire Town Administrator Mark Webber and held a meeting.
Gordon also reiterated that the district will still be underfunded, but she felt this compromise was the only way to save some of the 28 positions that would have been cut with the original Adams budget.
"We need more money that is for sure but after getting the pulse of the community ... our choices were to go for override and lose and have to cut nearly $500,000 or possible reorganization of the budget and only cut $230,000 for the budget," she said.
She said Cheshire has always worked wonderfully with the district and in the future they will focus on more direct communication.
She said she plans to meet with the Cheshire selectmen to discuss the issue.
The committee also reorganized. Paul Butler will be the chairman and Rodowicz will be the vice chairman. All other subcommittees will remain the same.
Gordon said CT Plunkett School will offer breakfast and lunch again this summer for any child 18 or under. Children do not have to show proof of family income. This service is provided through a grant and is available to CT Plunkett because it is a title one school.
Tags: #adamsbudget, fiscal 2016, school budget,
