CHESHIRE, Mass. — School Committee members overcame weeks of dissension related to the closing of an elementary school to unanimously approve a $19.2 million budget for fiscal 2018.

The Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee first failed to close on a budget number already accepted by its larger partner Adams, splitting along town lines. It debated going higher or pursuing a "supplemental budget" that would allow Cheshire School to remain open but those efforts were dropped Monday night when it became apparent they were unrealistic.

 

So the board voted Monday to accept a budget that is under both towns' levy limits and therefore has a better chance of being passed by the two town meetings.

 

However, the more immediate concern was passing a budget by April 30, otherwise it would be reduced to the minimum municipal requirements triggering an immediate $1 million in cuts.

 

"We do need to do something tonight and we need to put something forward or it will get worse and worse every day," School Committee member Edmund St. John IV said. "We have to vote on the budget because the consequences of not will bring us to a place we cannot be."

 

Committee member Stephan Vigna said by not passing a budget, they are causing stress among teachers and administrators.

 

"My concern is that … we are hurting the district more by not passing a budget and the superintendent … said this budget is a way to move forward," Vigna said. "It doesn't have everything but we didn't get here overnight and we aren't getting out of it overnight."  

 

Before voting, the committee looked at another budget that was $325,000 higher and included all the recommended interventionists and a special-education coordinator, and kept both Cheshire Elementary School and C.T. Plunkett School open.

 

That budget would most likely need a Proposition 2 1/2 override in each town, but it would have left the decision on spending to the towns.

 

The School Committee also hoped to present the $19.2 million budget with a supplementary warrant article that would add the $325,000 so if the budget failed in one of the towns, the district would still have a safeguarded budget. 

 

However, the district's legal counsel Jeffrey Grandchamp provided an opinion Monday night that the committee must pass one budget and can't rely on a "multi-warrant" budget process.

 

St. John asked that the committee still consider higher budget and said he did not feel the numbers were unattainable. 

 

Chairman Paul Butler said if they do not think a budget can pass town meeting or an override vote, they should not put it forward. 

 

"It might get past one of the town meetings but in either town an override will be difficult. They have rarely been successful," Butler said. "I rather shoot for one that I feel relatively confident would pass."

 

Before making the motion to accept the $19.2 million budget, committee member Regina Hill said she did not think an override will get through Adams.

 

"As a representative from Adams I can't vote in good conscience to bring a budget that requires an override," she said. "I have heard from people I work with, and I don't escape it, citizens say they will not support an override. This budget isn't perfect but it will move us forward."

 

St. John said he still felt there was uncertainty and just because the budget sails through Adams town meeting, it does not mean Cheshire would be so accommodating.

 

"The million-dollar question is how do we balance everything and how do we reassure our staff and communities moving forward?" he said. "If we pass one budget one town won't approve it. If we pass the other, the other town won't approve it."

 

Superintendent Robert Putnam said if either town shoots down the budget it will return to the School Committee, which can either put forward the same budget or an altered one. This can ultimately end in a districtwide vote if both town meetings cannot decide on a budget.

 

If the school district does not have a fully approved budget by July 1, the state will level fund it at the fiscal 2017 amount and apportion out 1/12 of that amount each month. If no budget by Dec. 1, the Department of Education will take fiscal control and establish a budget.

 

Putnam said this would mean $275,000 in cuts that will probably have to come from personnel. He said none of the recommended positions would be hired and the district would have to operate with two schools.

 

He added that it is up to the School Committee to assure the public of the importance of the positions in the budget and that changes need to be made in the district.

 

"Our fiscal situation does not appear to be going away anytime soon, and if we maintain three buildings we are not going to have the positions that we could have," he said. "We will be faced with next year, most likely, with the exact same thing so how does the committee work with the communities to try to best explain this?"

 

School Committee member Peter Tatro asked Putnam if there are any benefits to keeping all three schools open.

 

Putnam said the district would still co-locate grades, as they would with a two-school model. He said this would allow for more resource sharing. He said with three schools open, there would be 10 to 12 vacant classrooms at Hoosac Valley High School.

 

He added that maintaining the district under the $19.2 million budget with three schools open would mean cuts and would not allow the district to hire the new positions.

 

The School Committee did not allow public comment but Cheshire Elementary Principal Peter Bachli was allowed to ask some questions before it voted. Bachli said he was concerned that the town of Adams would not honor its commitment to make repairs to C.T. Plunkett and these funds would ultimately be taken away from education.

 

School Committee member Darlene Rodowicz asked if the district could possibly get something in writing from the town.

 

Butler said the town administrator and Selectmen have made the commitment multiple times and the School Committee will hold their feet to the fire but said he would ask for something in writing.

 

Butler closed by thanking the attendees, mostly Cheshire residents, for their input and interest in the future of the district.

 

"I appreciate the fact that you took the time to come out and give us your feedback in what has been a very trying time for us as well," he said. "It has not been an easy budget session and one that is not taken lightly so thank you for coming out and support the school and the process."