NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Finance & Facilities Committee took a deeper dive this week into next year's school spending plan.

 

The draft proposal for fiscal 2026 is $21,636,220, up 3.36 percent that will be offset with $940,008 in school choice funds, bringing the total to $20,696,212, or a 2.17 percent increase. 

 

Business and Finance Director Nancy Rauscher said the district's school choice account would be in relatively good shape at the end of fiscal 2026. 

 

As a practice, the district has been to trying not to exceed the prior year's revenue and to maintain a 5 percent surplus for unexpected special education expenses. However, this year's revenue would be about $500,000 so the amount used would be significantly more. 

 

"But given our current balance, we could absorb that in the net result of what we're anticipating in the way of revenue next year," Rauscher said. "Relative to committing $940,000 to school choice spending next year, that would leave us with a projected balance at the end of FY 26 of a little over $1.2 million, and that's about 6 percent of our operating budget."

 

But committee members expressed concerns about drawing down school choice funds that are projected to decrease in coming years. 

 

"I think mostly we're going to go through this and we're going to see things that this just can't be cut, right? It's just, it is what it is, and if we want to provide, what we can provide," said Richard Alcombright. "How do we prepare for this, this revenue shortfall?"

 

Rauscher said the district would have to look at the next drawdown for fiscal 2027. She acknowledged that "it's not sustainable to contribute at the rate we're currently contributing at, from a school choice perspective ... we feel like for at least next year, and even the year after, we're kind of in a good spot."

 

She also highlighted changed line items in the budget, mostly the result of reallocations of resources across different departments or changes in teacher seniority.

 

Some changes include returning the facilities director to full time within the North Adams schools. The district had been sharing with Hoosac Valley School District at a 70/30 split but Superintendent Barbara Malkas said it was not meeting the schools needs.

 

"Between the school building project and really just very there were some very different systems in place between the two districts. The needs have evolved," she said. Plus, a facilities position was cut so there is no only two full-time people in that department.

 

A data coordinator person will continue to be shared by the districts and but there is discussion on whether to continue with a shared athletic director. 

 

Malkas said having a teacher stipended as the AD would not save much because they would have to be released from teaching for directors meetings and attending to MIIA requirements. 

 

The prior director had been retired and worked part time, she said. "He did it because he loved it."

 

"Are we getting our $40,000 worth? If we are, then I'm happy," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, who added she wanted "to really make sure that our students, our coaches, our fans, our administration, are getting the attention that they need."

 

The superintendent said she would have to speak with coaches and the assistant but she felt the job was getting done. A meeting was to be held late last week with other supers, ADs and high school principals. 

 

Four positions will be eliminated including two grant-funded curriculum positions at Colegrove Park and Brayton. Those teachers have bumping rights over instructors on waivers. An Edgenuity teacher will be eliminated but that teacher will shift into an English position opened via retirement; the other retirement at Drury, "principal on assignment," will not be filled and its $105,000 will be used to offset other lines.

 

Other increases including salary lines for substitutes and nursing based on recent committee approvals; administrative software and licensing, including new accounting software; a floating nurse position at $46,000; a contractual increase of 3.9 percent for transportation; and projected hikes in utilities and supplies.

 

The Finance and Facilities Committee will meet again on Friday, March 21, at 2:15 p.m. for final review and vote to recommend the budget to the full School Committee.