 North Adams School Committee Votes to Keep Adjustment CounselorThe committee OK'd a level-funded budget of $17,769,075 on a vote of 5-2 with members Tara Jacobs and Ian Bergeron voting against because of concerns that the budget did not address what they felt were deficiencies in the arts and special education.  North Adams Moving Forward on Level-Funded BudgetThis week, the news isn't quite so awful with the state committed to level-funding aid through at least the first two months of fiscal 2021. But the district isn't out of the woods yet, Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the committee on Tuesday.  Pittsfield Schools Leadership Hopeful For Budget ApprovalSuperintendent Jason Mccandless told the School Committee on Wednesday that he is hoping the contentious $64.4 million school budget clears the City Council's final vote but a 1/12th budget is being prepared.  Pittsfield School Committee Make No Changes to BudgetLast week, the City Council had preliminarily approved the entire fiscal 2021 budget except for the $64.4 million school plan that they tossed back to the School Committee for another look. Councilors had expressed concern that the school budget was too tight.  North Adams, Pittsfield Educators Rally for School FundingEducators and supporters in the county's two cities rallied on Monday for more educational funding even as school officials prepare for budget scenarios that could cost dozens of teaching positions and school closures.  Pittsfield School Budget Tabled After Technical IssuesThe City Council on Thursday tabled the Pittsfield Public Schools fiscal 2021 budget of $64,493,70 at the conclusion of a four-hour-plus hearing after some technical difficulties brought the meeting to a grinding halt.  North Adams Schools Mull Reconfiguration, Closure ScenariosSchool officials are bracing for a worst-case budget scenario that could mean the closure of one of the three elementary schools. At minimum, the district is anticipating reductions in positions. There's also the possibility of the reconfiguration of Brayton and Greylock schools.  North Adams Schools Preparing for Dire Budget CutsThe School Department is preparing three scenarios for budget reductions in anticipation of expected cuts in state education aid because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Pittsfield School Committee Accepts Fiscal 2021 Budgethe School Committee has accepted a fiscal 2021 budget that is level funded at $65,113,700 but fears further reductions in Chapter 70 could cause more cuts.  Pittsfield School Budget Anticipates $1.4M in CutsSchool administrators on Wednesday outlined one vision of a level-funded budget that could eliminate just under 30 positions.  Clarksburg Holding Off on School Choice DecisionsThe School Committee is holding off on approving school choice slots for this coming fall because of the uncertainty of what the school year will look like.  Pittsfield School Committee Sees Level-Funded BudgetLast week, administrators came before the School Committee empty handed because with the COVID-19 pandemic essentially resetting the state budget, they had little context to build their own budget.  Pittsfield School Committee Without Draft BudgetThe School Committee agreed Wednesday to, if possible, continue an upcoming budget hearing allowing more time to find possible solutions for looming deadlines.  North Adams Schools Preparing Alternative Budget PlansA preliminary budget with a 1.5 percent increase to maintain level services had already been presented. That's now off the table as schools are shuttered until at least May 4 — if not longer — and Beacon Hill had barely made headway with the fiscal 2021 spending plan before the spreading novel coronavirus put everyone on an emergency footing.  Hoosac Valley May Eliminate 22 Positions to Keep Level BudgetThe $20,100,111 spending plan presented Monday by Superintendent Aaron Dean represents only a $625 increase over fiscal 2020.  Mount Greylock Proposes Smaller Budget to LanesboroughFinance Committee Chairwoman Jodi-Lee Szczepaniak Locke was impressed by the inclusion of all levels of the administration in the process.  McCann Budget Benefits From Increase in State AidThe School Committee approved the $10,038,602 budget on Thursday that although is almost 5 percent more than the fiscal 2020 budget of $9,564,727 reflects a near $331,000 increase in state aid.  Mount Greylock Committee Meets Award Winners, Discusses Budget PrioritiesThe Renzi Award, first given in 1986, honors the legacy of former teacher, principal and superintendent Helen Renzi.  Pittsfield School Committee Accepts Increased Chapter 70 Spending PlanThe School Committee set a spending plan for an extra $1.3 million increase in state funding that it hadn't anticipated Monday night. The plan is eyed to benefit the middle and elementary schools as well as alternative programs.  Clarksburg School Declines North Adams Food Service ProposalThe School Committee voted 2-1 last week to decline an offer from the North Adams Public Schools' Food Service Department to take over the cafeteria  North Adams School Committee Approves Budget, Academy ChangesSome $265,000 in school choice funds is being used to offset the budget, bringing the total down to $17.769 million. That represents an increase of $348,414 over this year, or 2 percent.  McCandless Shrinks Pittsfield School Budget RequestSuperintendent Jason McCandless is scaling back his budget request by about a half million dollars. McCandless said he had a meeting with Mayor Linda Tyer and Director of Finance Matthew Kerwood since revealing his initial request for a $3.4 million increase to the budget and the three agreed to a lesser number. Particularly, McCandless said the number of new positions, mostly new paraprofessionals, is being scaled back.  Lanesborough Gets First Look at Mount Greylock BudgetThe town is being asked to spend about $64,000 more this year to support the schools.  Mount Greylock School Committee Amends Budget to Preserve Music InstructionAfter hearing from several teachers at the elementary and high school level who argued against the cut, the six members of the seven-person panel in attendance voted unanimously to restore about $6,000 to the $22.4 million gross operating budget for the three-school, PreK-12 district.  McCandless Asks 5.7 Percent Increase for Pittsfield SchoolsSuperintendent Jason McCandless is asking for a $3.4 million increase to the school's budget. The large 5.7 percent increase comes as Gov. Charlie Baker has proposed a budget that gives the city $3.7 million more in Chapter 70 state aid for schools. The request comes with a number of new initiatives and positions which McCandless said will bolster specific areas the district has identified as problematic areas. |
| More Stories |
Send news, tips, press releases and questions to info@iBerkshires.com
Send sports news to sports@iBerkshires.com
Send sports news to sports@iBerkshires.com