NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee will be presented next week with a $20 million spending plan for fiscal 2025 that includes closing Greylock School and a reduction of 26 full-time positions.
The Finance and Facilities committee is recommending the budget of $20,357,096, up $302,744 or 1.51 percent over this year. This is funded by $16,418,826 in state Chapter 70 education funds, local funding of $3,938,270 (up $100,000 over this year) and a drawdown of school funds of $575,237.
The budget is up overall because of rising contractural costs, inflation and a hike in the cost of out-of-district tuition.
Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the committee on Monday that assignment letters were being sent out the next day to personnel per agreement with the union of a May 1 deadline.
Twenty of the reductions represent members teacher's bargaining unit including a dean of students, an art teacher, music teacher, physical education teacher, school adjustment counselor and a librarian at Drury High School (who will move to teaching and be replaced by a library paraprofessional); also affected are two clerical paraprofessionals, two custodians, one maintenance, and a school nurse. The principal is being shifted to Drury's Grades 7 and 8 "on assignment" to complete her contract.
"Losing 26 positions from the budget, we still have to have some funds from our school choice revolving account in order to close the budget for FY 25," said Malkas.
A couple of these positions are already vacant and it is not clear how many, if any, retirements would affect the number of job losses. Malkas said there have been "rumors" of retirements but staff have been reluctant to discuss firm plans with administration.
"I believe most staff will wait to see what their assignment letters indicate before making
any announcements," she said.
Committee member Richard Alcombright asked if School Department was providing some assistance to help those being let go in finding new work.
"Is it possible that there'll be some positions open and available through other districts, potentially. I've already met with my colleagues and indicated that this was happening and that if they received an application from anyone from our district, please contact me and I'd be happy to make a recommendation," she said, but noted that Pittsfield was reducing its workforce by more than 100. "There's also going to be a recall l list as well. So if we get started to see some retirements, things like that, then there's an opportunity for them to re-engage with us."
Malkas said she has been "actively" writing letters of recommendation.
"We're not removing any existing instructional areas?" asked committee member Tara Jacobs. "I understand we're shrinking classrooms so we don't need the staff ... but the work that was happening in the classroom won't be affected?"
Malkas said that was correct. Art and music for example will continue, she said. "It's just the closure of the school leading to that contraction."
The School Department will host a community forum on the grade configuration changes on Wednesday, May 15, at 6 p.m. in the Brayton School Welcome Center and via Zoom here.
The budget is being affected by rising costs and inflation that the state's Chapter 70 funding can't keep up with, and Malkas said this will become more of an issue as time goes on.
"It's because of a flaw in the way the inflation adjustments are calculated in Chapter 70," she said. "The inflation rate, in actuality far exceeds the Chapter 70 cap."
The cap is 4.5 percent but inflation in 2023 was 7 percent. The law had initially called for an incremental adjustment when inflation exceeded the cap, but said Malkas, "this language seems to have exited."
"The way the Chapter 70 formula originally worked, this wouldn't be a long-term problem because the lost inflation would automatically be added to the foundation budget in the following year," she said. "But a technical change made almost a decade after the law was passed, inadvertently changed that."
In response to questions about Pittsfield's getting an extra $2.4 million in Chapter 70, Director of School Finance and Operations Nancy Rauscher said it had to do with Pittsfield's level in terms of the number of low-income students. That city had found enough students to bump it into a higher level; North Adams did find one more student that raised its funding about $7,500 but it would need a far more to move into another level.
Rauscher said she would continue to review enrollment.
"I just wanted to manage everyone's expectations. I'm not expecting to find a couple of million dollars but I will let you know," she said.
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Neal Secures $700,000 for North Adams Flood Chutes Project
Mayor Jennifer Macksey at last August's signing of an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal has secured $700,000 in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' budget to complete a feasibility study of the Hoosic River flood chutes.
The Corps of Engineers is in the midst of a three-year, $3 million study of the aging concrete flood chutes that control the passage of the river through the city.
North Adams has ponied up $500,000 as part of its share of the study and another $1.5 million is expected to come from state and federal coffers. Neal previously secured $200,000 in the fiscal 2023 omnibus spending package to begin the feasibility study.
The additional funding secured by Neal will allow for the completion of the study, required before the project can move on to the next phase.
Neal celebrated it as a significant step in bringing the flood chutes project to fruition, which he said came after several months of communication with the Corps.
"The residents of North Adams have long advocated for much needed improvements to the city's decades-old flood chutes. This announcement is a substantial victory for the city, one that reaffirms the federal government's commitment to making this project a reality," said the congressman. "As a former mayor, I know firsthand the importance of these issues, especially when it comes to the safety and well-being of residents.
"That is why I have prioritized funding for this project, one that will not only enhance protections along the Hoosic River Basin and reduce flood risk, but also make much critical improvements to the city's infrastructure and create jobs."
But not enough for Finance Committee member Andrew Fitch, who voted against the compensation and classification plan because it did not include a city planner.
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The Corps of Engineers is in the midst of a three-year, $3 million study of the aging concrete flood chutes that control the passage of the river through the city.
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This weekend, the Berkshires and surrounding areas will have a variety of events, including concerts, comedy, farmers' markets, and more.
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The License Board on Tuesday approved two license transfers including one for V&V and a license for a restaurant in the former BrewHaHa on West Main Street.
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Board Chair Peter Mirante thanked the sponsors of the breakfast event at the Berkshire Hills Country Club, including his employer, Adams Community Bank, for allowing him to attend the nonprofit's many events and functions and encouraging his involvement. click for more