Clarksburg Looking to Reduce Costs of North Berkshire School Union
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.
This would would make up 45 percent of the budget even before enrollment is calculated. Haskins believes this could save the school about $70,000.
"I think this is a good first step. I think some of the discussion leading up to this have been kind of varied across the board," said member Colton Andrews. "We have to look at some long-term viability and really kind of evaluate what our options are."
But, he said, they'd have to see what the other members had to say and acknowledged they wouldn't be eager to propose a rise in costs to the communities.
"This might be a line they don't necessarily want to cross, but I think at that point we have to, say, OK, we've given you the option," he said. "Now we have to look at Plan B, C or D, kind of go from there."
School Committee Chair Laura Wood said she could not speak on behalf of the other members but liked to think they were on the same page.
"I think what you put together here makes sense, and to me, looks fair for each town, like Colton said the others may not see it that way," she said of the other NBSU members. "So it would have to be a fair discussion and open discussion, and then we bring a lot to the table for the union."
Haskins said Superintendent John Franzoni has been sympathetic to the idea that adjustments should be made.
"That will help a lot for these other towns to feel good about their decision," he said.
Tags: Clarksburg School, NBSU,
