I’m in agreement with Mr. Buoniconti’s ideas for change in how the state does business with rural schools. Although these are good ideas, they remain just that: ideas. I’m not optimistic that the state will embrace or act on them in whole or in part anytime soon.
As in any enterprise, there are revenue and cost sides. There’s no guarantee that there will be any improvement on the revenue side for schools from the state. The one thing we can affect is cost.
The Mohawk Trail Regional School budget more often than not drives member towns to 21/2 overrides. This is unsustainable.
In Shelburne, all the other town departments understand fiscal restraint. Mohawk continues to hire more administrative personnel while the enrollment declines. This drains scarce resources from the member towns. This also takes away resources that could be applied directly to education and make Mohawk competitive with the charter schools.
It’s important to think “out of the box” and advocate for positive change.
It’s every bit as important to attend to working within boundaries.
Leo Ojala
Chair, Shelburne
Finance Committee