Adams-Cheshire Starts Budget Talks at High Mark
 Parents and residents attended the discussions on the budget held at Hoosac Valley High School. The Cheshire Elementary Parent-Teacher Group has started a letter writing campaign asking state and local officials to help the district. |
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Adams-Cheshire Regional School District may put forth a $19 million budget that does not include "devastating cuts" — but which goes beyond what the towns said they can afford.
The School Committee on Thursday began its discussions on the final draft of the fiscal 2016 budget. The $19,416,521 budget shows a 4.4 percent increase.
Superintended Kristen Gordon said the proposed budget already has massive reductions build into it. But the nearly $800,000 assessment increase between the two towns is mostly in place to save 25 position that would be cut, among other things.
"This is not a budget that meets where the towns would like us to be because we feel like we just can't present that kind of budget to you again this year," Gordon said. "Today we are presenting the most educationally sound budget we could present."
Gordon said the budget does not include needed math and reading coaches, has cuts in paraprofessionals and in needed building maintenance. These cuts also include four retirements that won't be replaced. She said there were also cuts in supplies and substitute teaching; professional development funds were reduced to zero.
She added teachers have taken cuts in health insurance to help with the budget.
"In this budget, you will see that we have trimmed every single area to a concerning level … we looked at every line item and cut as much as we could possibly cut," Gordon said. "If you ask us to cut the budget any further it will be 100 percent staff cuts … those cuts will be devastating to the district."
The service budget has been leveled and a curriculum director and technology director have been added as recommended by the state Department of Education. A part-time school adjustment counselor was added and a part-time science teacher to return a portion of labs to the school that were cut out last year.
The proposed budget would cost Adams $5,143,382; this is an increase of $542,082. Cheshire would be responsible for $2,465,747; this is a $197,291 increase. Adams Selectmen on Wednesday recommended a town budget with an estimated regional school assessment of $4.8 million.
Gordon said even with this increase, the district would still have the lowest per pupil expenditure in the county. She said the $12,990 the district spends is below the $14,571 state average and the $16,000 county average. She said this number will continue to decrease with continued cuts in personnel and services.
Business Manager David Hinkell said he had to use $300,000 from the district's certified reserve account, and with such a lean budget, the district can expect little to work with next year. He said he anticipates the account to be reduced from $700,000 to $500,000 next budget cycle.
Gordon said normally there is extra money to work with and if an emergency occurs, the district doesn't have to totally rely on reserves. However, this budget has no cushion built in at all.
Hinkell added that the increase would translate to 75 cents per $1,000 property valuation for Adams and less than 75 cents for Cheshire.
Gordon said half of the increases come fromin health insurance, which accounts for $300,000, and a special needs student who has to be sent to residential care at a cost $100,000.
Gordon said the number of schools students can chose to attend in the area makes it difficult for public schools. More specifically, the Berkshire Arts & Technology Public Charter School will cost the district $700,000.
"Putting a charter school in the middle of Adams directly across from our elementary school has created tremendous financial stress for this district," Gordon said. "I am simply making the statement that this decision continues to devastate our budget."
Hinkell said, to date, BArT has cost the district nearly $6 million. More than 60 Adams students attend the charter school.
Gordon said if this budget is not supported, 25 positions will be cut, paraprofessionals will only be able to work with special-ed classrooms, there will be no classroom assistance and there will be larger class sizes. She said this will translate to more work for teachers, who will have less time with students.
She said there will be reductions in class options, libraries in the elementary schools will be cut, and extracurricular activities will be reduced.
Chairwoman Darlene Rodowicz said if the budget is not accepted, student's education will be harmed and the committee would not be doing its job if it advocated for less.
"For years, we have worked this way with the towns where we have a meeting before the budget, they tell us how much we can spend, and we have been good citizens and we have tried to live within that number," Rodowicz said. "We are at the point now where we are not fulfilling our roles properly. Our job is to advocate for this district and we have not been doing that."
Gordon said her main goal of proposing a higher budget was to not to go against the towns. She said she completely understands the financial challenges in both towns. She said the towns have been transparent and responsive, but she felt it was important to make sure the public knew the costs of the cuts.
"Every year, I have come in and presented what the towns said they could afford," she said. "This year I feel I owe it to both communities that if we do go with what the towns feel like they can support this is how many cuts we are going to have."
School Committee member Edmund St. John IV said he wished the towns would reconfigure how much they support education. He said both North Adams and Pittsfield provide more money for education in their communities.
"The amount of money you spend in you budget kind of dictates your philosophies in terms of spending," St. John said. "That is the number that tells us how committed our towns are to education … give us a bigger slice of that pie so we can do our job and so we can educate our kids and improve our schools."
Cheshire Advisory Board member William Craig said changes do need to be made in the school or families will not move to the area.
"It is a death spiral that we are in right now. People look at the school district and don't want to move here," Craig said. "We are never going to build our base back up if people are not willing to step up and so some of things … to build our base back up."
 Superintendent Kristen Gordon said she was presenting an 'educationally sound budget,' albeit one beyond what the town officials in Adams and Cheshire said they can afford. |
Gordon added that the more that is cut, the harder it will be to combine with other districts to save costs in the future.
There was some confusion among committee members and teachers in the audience because Wednesday night the Adams Selectmen had recommended the town budget without a presentation from the district or a final vote by the committee on its own budget.
The Selectmen accepted a 4 percent increase to the district from $4,601,300 to $4,758,352 in the budget, which is what the town can give to stay under the levy limit.
Rodowicz said historically the school has given its budget presentation at the end of March after the committee officially voted. She added that she wished the dialogue continued with Adams before the vote.
Adams Finance Committee Chairman Timothy Burdick said the budget must be ready 60 days before town meeting. He said the Finance Committee still has to recommend the budget. He added that there has been a push this year to get the budget done earlier so if the town does go for a Proposition 2 1/2 override vote there would be time to complete the budget and the town would not have to enter the fiscal year without one.
Gordon said although the vote was done early, she has been in constant contact with the Adams town administrator and everything has been open and transparent. She reiterated that she just wanted to provide the public with more information.
Gordon said no matter what happens at town meetings, the district has to look at restructuring and making changes in its procedures. She said even with the compromised budget, the district will prevail and they will provide the best education they can.
"No matter what the outcome is I can assure you that the entire Adams-Cheshire School District will work 200 percent as they always do and will continue to provide the best education for every one of our students," she said. "We will continue to work hard to overcome the financial challenges we struggle with each day."
The School Committee will vote on the budget at the end of March.
Cheshire Elementary Parent Teacher Group Letter by iBerkshires.com
Tags: ACRSD, fiscal 2016, school budget,
