BUCKLAND — Heath officials warned that their town may not support a $19.4 million Mohawk Trail Regional School District budget unless more money is budgeted for running the Heath Elementary School.
Although Heath may close its elementary school and pay tuition for students to go to either Rowe or Hawlemont next fall, Heath’s Mohawk assessment is to rise by $20,000 — whether or not the elementary school stays open. The fiscal year 2018 assessment is $815,652 — but the Heath Elementary School budget has been reduced from $1.1 million this school year to about $686,000 next year.
But if closing the Heath School isn’t approved by town meeting voters — or if the state education department doesn’t approve Heath’s out-of-district tuition plan, the Heath School would be left with only about half this year’s operating budget and about one-third the staff size — at least on paper.
Mohawk Superintendent Michael Buoniconti tried to assure the Heath audience at Wednesday night’s public hearing that he would find more money for Heath, should the school remain open another year. He described it as a “contingency budget,” roughly based on the per-pupil cost for school tuition. “If I had to implement this budget (for the school), I would have to make some additions,” said Buoniconti. He said he would work with Heath Principal Jesse Porter-Henry to “make some provisions.”
But two selectmen, Heath School teachers, and several residents feared the Heath budget cut would leave the town without a safety net.
Selectboard Chairwoman Sheila Litchfield sent her comments to the Mohawk school board, saying “the contingency budget is inadequate,” and that “the contingency budget risks a no-vote from Heath.”
Budge Litchfield, a Heath School Committee member and retired principal of Sanderson Academy, said the money budgeted for Heath “doesn’t allow for the adequate education for a small ground of children.” He said it leaves no money for art, physical education, hot lunches, a secretary to see who enters and leaves the building. He said reducing janitorial services to once a week, would create a hygiene problem.
“I will not be voting yes on this budget,” he said. “It doesn’t set the stage for conversations to get a ‘yes’ vote in Heath.”
“I understand that change has to happen, and it will occur,” said Heath teacher Valerie Lively. She said the staff reduction “doesn’t put children first.”
Kirby “Lark” Thwing of Hawley, Former Mohawk School Committee chairman, recalled how some of Hawlemont’s students went to the Heath Elementary School while Hawlemont was being repaired after the floods of Tropical Storm Irene, in 2010. “Wouldn’t it be better, if you’re not able to work out a tuition agreement, if Heath students move to Colrain (Central School) until a tuition agreement is worked out,” he asked.
Karen Blom, of the Buckland Finance Committee, asked Buoniconti if it would be possible to use some of the district’s Excess and Deficiency money to supplement the Heath School budget “if it needs more time to make the decision.”
“I’m confused why this budget was proposed for Heath that was clearly inadequate,” said Heath Selectman Brian DeVriese. “If everything falls into place, we’d know there was going to be a savings in this budget. This kind of budget doesn’t help the trust level in our town, and we’re going to need trust.”
Buoniconti has said the budget is a “below-level services” financial plan, even though it represents a $472,797 increase. The three biggest cost increases this year are: employee benefits and insurance $314,342; choice, charter and out-of-district special education tuitions $314,800; and a transportation increase of $52,223. To help offset these increases, about $256,000 in instructional staffing was cut.
The full Mohawk school board is expected to adopt its fiscal year 2018 budget at its Feb. 15 meeting at Mohawk, at 7 p.m.