HUNTINGTON – After receiving the support of only three of the six member towns, the Gateway Regional School Committee met on Wednesday to vote on a new budget and to garner the support of at least one more town. Four towns are required for passage. The new version, which has a bottom line of $16,089,814, includes $105,908 in reductions.
“The leaders of the team spent a couple of hours looking at potential reductions from a long list,” said Gateway superintendent Dr. David B. Hopson, adding that they chose ones with the least impact on student services.
Recommended cuts included a half-time nurse in Littleville Elementary, evening security, para subs, and a secretary to be hired mid-year. Also being put off is a planned purchase of textbooks for the high school, and a 30% cut to copier supplies, which Hopson said “may be the most disruptive.”
Blandford selectman Cara Letendre, Russell Finance Committee member Ruth Kennedy, and Chester selectmen Rene Senecal and John Baldasaro were present for Wednesday’s budget vote by Gateway School Committee. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The reductions will reduce assessments to the towns by $7,116 to Huntington and Russell and $4,014 to Chester, the three towns that voted down the budget; and by an additional $3,024 to Blandford, $1,873 to Montgomery and $983 to Middlefield.
During the discussion of the budget, Chester selectman John Baldasaro asked whether the cuts would be sufficient to counter the resistance to the budget demonstrated at the town meetings.
“I’m not sure, but then we’ll have to make cuts that will affect student services,” Hopson said.
Baldasaro went on to say that he was looking for a process that would involve the towns more in the budget decisions made by the school and the School Committee. Hopson said that a process is being put in place beginning in September that will include opportunities to meet with town officials, and a facilitated discussion between the school and towns.
School Committee chair Michele Crane said that members start working on the budget in October, but during the same time the state is working on its budget, which makes decisions difficult. She suggested the towns put School Committee representatives on their January or February agendas, and invite them to make presentations to the Select Boards.
“We need to start behaving that way, more professionally,” Crane said.
“If we’re involved in the process, there comes understanding,” Baldasaro said. He also said he would like to see the district and the towns get creative and think outside the boix. One example he gave was the problem the Council on Aging in Chester is having with finding space to meet. He said there is room in the Chester Elementary School, which he would like to see the COA use for meals, and possibly an intergenerational program.
Hopson said he liked the idea, and would like to sit down with Baldasaro to talk about it.
After further discussion, the School Committee passed the budget unanimously.
New Gateway School Committee member Aaron Welch of Huntington. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Business manager Stephanie Fisk said the towns would now be getting two letters, one from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education putting them on a 1/12th budget until a new budget is voted. The second letter would contain the new assessment from the budget that was just voted.
One of the School Committee members who voted was Aaron Welch, who was sworn in Wednesday evening. Welch moved with his family to Huntington in October, and gained the seat through three write-in votes at the town election, including his own. Coming in second in the vote, the Select Board appointed him on Wednesday.
Welch, who is a software designer and entrepreneur, has two children. He said his three- almost four year old will be starting pre-school at Gateway in September, and his other child will be 2 in September.
Welch said he wanted to get involved because he was active in his student body and in the theatre program in his school in Washington State, where he also served as homecoming king.
Wednesday was also the final School Committee meeting for Jeff Wyand of Huntington, leaving one more vacancy for the town on the School Committee.
