Adams-Cheshire Approves $19M Budget for Fiscal 2016
 Superintendent Kristen Gordon explains what budget reductions would do to the school district's educational program. |
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee on Tuesday night approved 6-1 a budget of $19,416,521 for fiscal 2016.
The spending plan includes an $800,000 increase in assessments to the regional school district's two towns and the vote places the district's educational future squarely in voters' hands.
"This isn't the budget that we need, this is the budget we need to keep things the same," said Superintendent Kristen Gordon.
Joshua DeMarsico-Birkland was the lone protest vote against the total budget, afterward saying, "I think it's still not what we need for the school system."
About 60 or so district residents and staff attended the public hearing at Hoosac Valley High School, one of several hearings the district has held to impress upon the community the "devastating cuts" that would occur should the budget fail.
School officials say up to 25 positions would be eliminated, including 10 teachers. The budget has already been trimmed as much as possible, they said, including cutting paraprofessionals, supplies, professional development and building maintenance.
Adams Selectmen Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said the board is reopening the town meeting warrant on Wednesday for a technical issue but he would ask if members wanted to review the school budget article. In Cheshire, the Selectmen planned to plug in the new numbers on that town's warrant.
John Cowie, an Adams town meeting member, challenged the School Committee over the district's academic performance the last few years and questioned the need of spending more money.
"If you never give us any more resources, you can never expect anything better," said Chairwoman Darlene Rodowicz. "The only way to make things better is to try. ...
"I'm not saying throw money anywhere ... but there are just certain things we need to have."
She pointed out that Adams-Cheshire is at the bottom in spending above the foundation budget. Lee spends double what Adams-Cheshire does and Mount Greylock Regional about 70 percent more, she said.
If Adams-Cheshire's budget is approved, it will still be below what other districts in Berkshire County are spending even before their 2016 budgets are approved, Rodowicz said.
Cowie countered that other similar school districts are doing better academically but Gordon asked if they had a curriculum director or math and reading coaches — things that Adams-Cheshire lacks.
"We know exactly what we need to do. We just don't have the people to do it," Gordon responded. "If we had the people, we would show you we can do it. ...
"The frustrating part is we can't put the plan in place."
Spending more per pupil benefits educational progress, she said, and the data bears it out.
"It's a socioeconomic divide ... if you spend more on education your kids are going to do better," Gordon said, adding the district needs to give its children the opportunities to advance.
Cowie suggested that there may be "deadwood" in the teaching staff that could be trimmed instead of adding funds.
"I can't name a piece of deadwood in our district, John," one teacher responded. "And we are working and working and trying and trying and we're doing the very best we can."
The district's demographics are changing and teachers are dealing with children who may not have access to technology critical to today's education, or may be dealing with issues at home, she said. "We are dealing not just with academics but the whole picture, the whole child."
School Committee member Paul Butler said Chapter 70 school funding "has been flat or anemic at best."
The budget overall is up 4.4 percent, driven by a 16 percent increase health insurance, a $100,000 special education placement and 30 percent or more jumps in natural gas and electricity.
"You can either cut services or the burden is going to fall on taxpayers," he said.
School Committee member Regina Hill said the school district had done its best in years past in trying to meet the needs of the towns.
"I think it is time the school gets a little bit more and something else gets a little bit less," she said.
The committee voted to approved the total $19,416,521 budget, with a foundation budget of $17,552,361, a transportation budget of $845,451 and a capital budget of $1,018,709; an assessment to Adams of $5,787,489, including a transportation budget of $385,956 and a capital budget of $769,542, and an assessment to Cheshire of $2,680,449, including a transportation budget of $136,339 and a capital budget of $249,168.
"We just can't in good faith put forth a budget that's going to hurt the kids any longer," said Rodowicz.
Tags: ACRSD, fiscal 2016, school budget,
