CHESHIRE, Mass. — Voters of the Hoosac Valley Regional School District passed a fiscal 2025 budget of $23 million on a vote of 218-160.

 

There was no discussion as the question was moved almost unanimously to a vote. 

 

The districtwide vote on Monday night was prompted by Cheshire's rejection of its assessment. The budget had passed town meeting but it had required a $150,000 Proposition 2 1/2 override that failed a month later on a ballot vote. 

 

Adams town meeting members had approved that town's assessment in June, however, there had been a push by some residents on Facebook to take the opportunity to vote the budget down. 

 

The district meeting started 33 minutes after its scheduled start time of 6:30 p.m. as the town clerks and their staff worked to sign in the 385 registered voters.

 

The school had set up for overflow in the cafeteria but the 500-seat auditorium easily held the gathering with 236 Adams voters attending and 149 from Cheshire. 

 

Chair Adam Emerson said the full School Committee "strongly endorses proposed fiscal year 2025 budget"

 

"By endorsing this budget, the School Committee is supporting the vision of our district's leadership team, the hard work of our teachers and support staff and ultimately, our students," he said. 

 

Superintendent Aaron Dean went through a brief presentation on the budget, noting that the budget was up by a million but the effect on the towns was $108,000. 

 

The main issue had been the bump in Cheshire's assessment of more than $130,000 because of the proportional calculations based on enrollment and the state's calculations. 

 

For the 2024 school year, Adams had 729 students (a drop of 45) and Cheshire 224, up four over the previous year. 

 

Dean said nearly half the $1,096,525 increase was for school choice, the assessment to the charter school and special education placements. 

 

"These are mandated increases that we can't change," he said. "If we have to reduce the budget by that $133,000 that we were talking about, applied proportionally, ends up being a $600,000 cut to the district, and that $600,000 cut only affects the students that walk through our doors."

 

He said the district in the last few years had developed student support, invested in high-quality curriculum materials, training for staff to increase capacity, implemented the Pathways program and expanded prekindergarten. 

 

The high school's accountability points were up across the board in achievement and advanced coursework, absenteeism and in graduation. 

 

His presentation had been objected to by Cathy Foster of Adams, saying it was not on the warrant for the meeting. Moderator Thomas Bernard ruled it within the purview of the meeting and when she appealed, the district's counsel weighed in and Bernard ruled her objection out of order, to wide applause. 

 

The voice vote for a secret ballot was very close so voters had to stand and be counted, and they went overwhelmingly 223-162 for a secret ballot. No members of the School Committee voted for secret ballot. 

 

Voters were given hot pink cards when they signed in and a yellow slip saying "yes" and "no." Voters were called up by row, ripped the yellow slip in half and dropped their choice into one of two baskets. 

 

The vote now sends the budget back to Cheshire for officials there to determine how they will fund their share. The Select Board had said previously the $133,000 would come out of reserves.