Dr. David Hopson
I’m pleased that the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission’s (PVPC) suggestion to begin discussing the Gateway budget on a regional level is being considered by the Russell Finance Committee. I hope that other towns, boards, and communities will also support this idea, essentially a reconvening of the Gateway Towns Advisory Committee (GTAC) that operated for many years and brought the towns and school district together to discuss issues, find common solutions, and work together to resolve problems. I certainly think that this is a better idea than only concentrating on the bottom line, not bringing up issues until the budget hearing in March, or waiting to share concerns on the floor of annual town meetings.
I believe that GTAC didn’t simply limit itself to a concerted effort to minimize town costs for education. Similarly, I would hope any new group taking its place would address the many issues surrounding the relationship between the Gateway District and the towns it serves. While the cost of education is certainly an issue everywhere (the College Board recently reported that the cost of a public college education for in-state residents has increased by 25 percent since 2008-09), we need to be careful to balance what we desire from education with our desire to reduce its cost. As everyone in the district may know, Gateway’s overall budget increases have been minimal over the past several years (the total budget has actually declined by roughly 8 percent since 08/09) but the cost of holding this budget line has been significant – the closing of 3 elementary schools, the realignment of grades 5 through 8, the reduction in busing for students, increases in fees, start times changing for grades 5 & 6, and many other smaller items that have had an impact on students and families.
As we move forward, it is important to determine what we want for our children in terms of educational services and opportunities. This includes such divergent items as how we will measure educational success, what types of extra-curricular activities and athletic programs we want to provide, the breadth and scope of academic courses offered to our students, the maintenance of the buildings and grounds, any capital improvements or repairs that need to be undertaken, the size and composition of classes, our ability to both attract and retain highly qualified staff members, and a host of other issues. Although seemingly disparate, each of these items contributes to what we can do for our students and what the costs of providing those opportunities will be. I’m hopeful that, as a greater community, we can reflect on the needs of all of the stakeholders involved, give opportunities for input, understand the complexity of the issues, and make informed decisions that will provide adequate opportunities for students to be prepared for further education and career success.
I noted that the idea of looking at these issues, as espoused by the PVPC, included input from the district from at least the superintendent and business manager. At a minimum, I would hope that we are invited to the table, included in the process, and are considered an integral part of the group, assuming that this initiative comes to fruition. Given all of the state and federal mandates, and the ever changing society in which we function, it’s more important than ever to be able to share issues, reflect on solutions, and collaboratively move forward to create the best school system we can within the confines of our fiscal limitations.
