The Gateway School Committee voted 12-0 to pass Version 3.0 of the budget, after some discussion about why the towns had this version at their town meetings before the School Committee approved it.
Both Blandford and Russell voted for their portion of the Gateway budget based on the reduced assessments to the towns in Version 3.0, due to additional state reimbursement for Chapter 70 regional transportation as voted by the State House of Representatives.
Middlefield had previously approved Version 2.1, and Worthington had voted it down.
Anne-Marie Buikus, member from Montgomery, said that Montgomery was also going to recommend Version 3.0 of the Gateway budget at last Monday’s town meeting which was postponed until June 4, due to the lack of a quorum of 64 residents.
Gretchen Eliason, School Committee member from Worthington, said, “I’m not happy and I think it was confusing for voters that Version 3.0 was offered to the towns before the School Committee voted on it.”
“Once the budget goes to the School Committee for consideration, that budget is made public, and I can’t withhold it,” responded Dr. David Hopson, Gateway Superintendent.
Version 3.0 had been sent to the School Committee in advance of the last meeting on May 9, but could not be voted on due to a lack of a quorum. Hopson also said that the additional Chapter 70 funds could only be used to reduce the assessments to the towns.
“The reality is, until the governor signs the budget, we don’t even know if we have the money,” Hopson added.
In other business, Beth Brett, School Committee Moderator, reported that the committee had received a registered letter from Worthington expressing their intent to withdraw from the Gateway district after the recent vote at the town meeting.
Dr. Hopson asked the School Committee for a vote to allow the administration to work with legal counsel on a way forward for the district. Two amendments will have to be made to the Regional Agreement of the district: the first to reflect a six town membership, and the second to comply with Massachusetts State Law regarding representation, commonly known as “One Man, One Vote.” All seven towns will have to approve all amendments.
“I think we have to go forward with a plan if they would not be allowed to withdraw, because it will take the vote of all seven towns,” Ron Damon of Huntington said. Hopson agreed they would have to have two plans in place.
Damon also suggested that Worthington pay their indebtedness to the district up front if they do withdraw.
“In other words, they should buy their way out,” he said. “I don’t want to see a situation where we’re obligated to pay their debt.”
Charles Henshaw of Middlefield noted that his town had previously approved “One Man, One Vote” at a town meeting, and asked, “How long is that valid?”
Hopson said that the vote will have to be redone with the new amendments to the regional agreement. The matter was tabled to the next meeting for a vote.
Under new business, Stephen Estelle, the new Acting President of the Gateway Teachers Association, spoke to the School Committee regarding reimbursement of a successfully completed workshop for a Gateway Junior High School teacher. The teacher had taken the workshop last year, having completed all the necessary paperwork and received approval, but the paperwork had not been submitted in time for the grant reimbursement.
“The teacher should be reimbursed for the cost of the workshop, and I am here to request payment,” Estelle said.
“The paperwork wasn’t processed,” Hopson said. “Under most circumstances I would not recommend that you pay this, but in this situation, I do,”
He added the he couldn’t hold a secretary accountable for the cost, which Estelle said was $540. “If the School Committee approves it, it will come out of this year’s Professional Development budget.”
The vote was tabled to next meeting, following the Committee’s two meeting practice.
Estelle, who previously served as Vice President of the Association, has been a teacher at Gateway for the past twenty-six years, and is also a Gateway graduate. He is currently a seventh grade history teacher and the girls’ soccer coach. He became acting president following the recent retirement of Diana Uliana, who served as president for the past eight years. Estelle is from Worthington.
