CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee wants voters to understand what is at stake when the attend a districtwide meeting next month. 

 

The committee voted unanimously Monday set a district vote on the fiscal 2025 budget and resolved its continuing support for the spending plan.

 

The district meeting is open to all registered voters in the towns of Adams and Cheshire and will be held on Monday, Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m. in the Hoosac Valley High auditorium.

 

Cheshire's rejection of the $23 million budget started the process as outlined by state law.

 

The annual town meeting had passed the spending plan dependent on a Proposition 2 1/2 override to cover the $150,000 increase in Cheshire's assessment. But the override failed on the ballot vote and a special town meeting that followed voted to level fund the assessment.

 

School officials say reducing Cheshire's assessment by $150,000 will mean a total cut of $600,000 because Adams' assessment would have to be reduced proportionally. A reduction of that size coming in the fall would affect positions and winter and spring sports. 

 

"What happens if we don't have a budget? No one's really clear on that," said committee member Michael Henault. "If that doesn't happen, I think the voters should know what would happen. ... I think it's important for the public to know what's at stake."

 

Superintendent Aaron Dean said the district would have to prioritize programming, review revenue sources and determine what is regulated by state laws and grant funding.

 

"It's going to be a combination of things ... it will probably result in larger class sizes for some cohorts of students. It will result in less access to interventions that aren't mandated, so things that we typically provide around social emotional learning and mental health services, those areas will probably be affected," he said. "There are things dictated by law, so we would have to put a number of things on the table and look at the least impactful combination of those. ...

 

"We don't have one source of revenue. There's about 15 different sources of revenue that go into running a school system, you know, and a lot of laws that we have to work to comply with."

 

Should the budget vote fail or be voted lower, the district would likely have to look at dipping into reserves, as well, he said. 

 

"We're finally getting to a point where we're getting systems in place, and we're going to start seeing the results," Dean continued. 

 

Committee member Fred Lora asked what the committee could do to get the word out but Vice Chair Erin Milne cautioned that members could run afoul of conflict of interest laws, and recommended anyone with concerns contact the state Ethics Commission hotline. The members can't advocate for or against a vote, but they can provide facts, though she noted this is a fine line. 

 

"You can do things in your personal capacity that can't do in the school capacity, and you can do things

in school capacity that can't do it in your personal capacity," she said. "And that's just a little tricky. So I would recommend everybody brush up on that."

 

It also prompted Milne to motion to amend the resolution stating the committee's continued support of the budget to add that it would "communicate" its officials stance, which would cover something like a position paper. 

 

Dean was charged with coming up with facts and figures that could be sent home with parents and posted on the district's website. It would also provide the committee members with the facts they could point to when asked about the budget and what might happen if it fails. 

 

The district calls the vote but it is up to the towns to determine a moderator and the town clerks to check in voters. Should the budget be affirmed, Cheshire expects to hit its reserves to cover the $150,000 gap; if it fails, it would return to the School Committee for further action. 

 

The district is currently operating on a month-by-month budget based on last year's spending plan. If it doesn't have an approved budget in place by Dec. 1, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will step in. 

 

When asked if the state would reduce the fiscal 2025 budget, Dean responded that it is sensible and within the limits that DESE had recommended. He noted that while Cheshire's assessment went up — based on enrollment and its designation as a "wealthier" town — it was just over the minimum contribution. 

 

"It's very likely DESE would approve the budget as it's presented," he said.

 

In other business, Milne updated the committee on the districtwide policy review. An outside auditor has started work on those documents and the subcommittee is updating the graduation requirements to align them with the new Pathways program.

 

• Dean said leaking in the middle school gym has been traced to a drain that will be patched. However, he cautioned that the roof is 25 years old and at the end of its life. The patching may buy some time but the district may be looking at replacing the roof in the next five years along with some other capital investments. 

 

Henault asked if the administration could look into solar grants that would expand the high school's solar generation and possibly cover replacement of the roof. 

 

The superintendent said problems with the heating, ventilation and air conditioning automation system is now working properly after replacing were sensors that weren't working. 

 

• School transportation schedules went out on Monday and the Dean said the district is in good shape in terms of the buildings being ready for the school year to begin. There are currently three openings — a teaching position and two paras — but new hires had their orientation on Monday and, he said, "we have an excited group of people who are going to be a great addition to the district."

 

• The committee also signed a memorandum of agreement with the town of Cheshire for Officer David Tarjick to become to the school resource officer. He will have space near the front office and his duties will largely be as a mentor and role model. The committee asked for more discussion on protocols for the SRO and how the position will be evaluated.