CHARLEMONT — A discussion of the Mohawk Trail Regional School District’s BEST Committee’s recommendations for long-term savings fell on few ears this week at the Hawlemont Regional School.
About a dozen people attended the Thursday night meeting, but most were from BEST, Mohawk or Hawlemont school committees, or from the Charlemont and Hawley boards of selectmen. And they were already familiar with the major recommendations presented to save money for the Mohawk district.
BEST (Building Education Sustainability and Trust) Committee Chairwoman Martha Thurber said it’s important that West County residents join the meetings, so they become informed voters when the proposed phases come up for town meeting votes.
If approved by Mohawk district town meeting voters, the first three phases for grade school consolidation would start in September and go through September 2019.
The goal for fall is to help the Heath Education Task Force find a way to educate its grade-school children so that the 29-student Heath Elementary School could be closed. (Heath is currently studying whether to tuition its pupils to either Hawlemont or to Rowe.)
By 2018 — if voters approve — sixth-grade children from Colrain Central, Buckland Shelburne Elementary (BSE) and Sanderson Academy schools would attend school together at Mohawk, reducing the number of staff required for sixth-grade teaching at three separate schools.
By September 2019, the committee recommends redistricting all its elementary students to either BSE or Sanderson and closing Colrain Central.
Another idea, further into the future, would be to build either a new elementary school or a building wing that would accommodate all the district’s preschool and elementary children on either the Mohawk campus or at BSE on Mechanic Street, Shelburne Falls. A feasibility study and financial analysis of that plan is to be completed by next December.
Thurber stressed that building a new school “may never happen,” but the committee believed studying the idea is worthwhile. Also, Thurber said the recommendations are flexible. For instance, if school population rises after high-speed broadband is built in West County, closures and consolidations may be revisited.
Charlemont Selectman Toby Gould said he thought meeting turnout may have been light because the major changes proposed don’t affect Hawlemont’s grade school children, who attend Hawlemont through sixth grade. BEST Committee and Buckland Finance Committee member Karen Blum said the issue still affects Charlemont and Hawley because it affects the financial future of the Mohawk Trail district’s secondary education.
The district’s enrollment has dropped by 45 percent over the past 15 years, but its state aid for education has been almost level-funded. Because of fixed costs for operating under-used buildings, and for having certified teachers at each grade level in the four schools, both costs and town assessments have been rising.
Other plans already going forward are:
To develop a clear educational vision that emphasizes excellence and sees the district “as the most attractive alternative in the region for students with a broad range of aspirations.”
Work closely with the Massachusetts Rural Schools Coalition (started by Mohawk Superintendent Michael Buoniconti) for legislative changes, such as a Chapter 70 provision for rural school aid in sparsely populated areas.
Reduce transportation costs, especially after June 2019, when the current bus contract expires.
Share staff and resources with neighboring districts.
Create an alumni network to maintain enthusiasm for the district and fundraising for its initiatives.
The next BEST public forum is scheduled for Monday at 6:30 p.m. at Sanderson Academy (Route 112) in Ashfield.