CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday discussed its planned presentation to Thursday's North Berkshire School Union "super committee." 

 

The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at Clarksburg School. 

 

Officials have been mulling a more equitable split on the costs of the school union since last winter. The town currently pays about 54 percent of the administrative costs of the shared superintendency based on enrollment. 

 

"After reviewing a few things, we're noticing the superintendent oversees four principals, the other school committee meetings, state reporting, oversees school buildings," said Chair Daniel Haskins. 

"It just felt us at the biggest percent of 54 percent and then the next, which would be Florida, 18 percent, it just doesn't quite seem like it's a good breakdown or a fair breakdown for us."

 

The percentage changes each year but for Clarksburg it's been trending up since being in the mid-40s nearly a decade ago, while the other towns are trending down. 

 

School Committee members have also noted that while the town pays about half the cost of the superintendency, it doesn't have an equivalent vote. At the last meeting, Clarksburg had one vote out of around 10. 

 

The Select Board would like the other towns to pick up costs for the similar responsibilities (some positions are already split equally). The board is proposing that all four communities with schools — Clarksburg, Florida, Rowe and Savoy — automatically cover 10 percent and Monroe, which sends its students to Rowe, 5 percent.