CHARLEMONT — Hawlemont’s proposed school budget will go up by $91,363 next year, but with $84,480 in tuition revenues from School Choice, there is no overall increase in the town assessments for the operating budget.
“We can say, this is your gift this year,” said Charlemont School Committee member Erwin Reynolds, referring to the assessment for the town. “But it probably won’t be this low next year.”
Charlemont’s assessment for the school’s operating budget will decrease by about $10,000 or 1 percent. But Hawley’s assessment will go up by about $10,000 (a 4 percent hike) partly because of changes in the state formula for Hawley’s “minimum contribution” have gone up.
The $9.1 million budget request itself represents a 5 percent increase, but the school choice revenue has mostly filled the budget gap.
“School Choice is the biggest driver at keeping the assessments down,” said Hawlemont Superintendent Michael Buoniconti. This fall, 54 Charlemont students and 14 Hawley children were enrolled in Hawlemont.
Since transitioning from a more traditional curriculum to the HAY (Hawlemont Agriculture and You) program, school enrollment has increased from 102 students last year to 125 students in the current school year. Next year, with new School Choice Hawlemont students, enrollment is expected to grow to 130, said Buoniconti. This year Hawley and Charlemont students in pre-K through Grade 6 totaled 88, plus 37 choice students.
Also, Heath has chosen Hawlemont as its preferred school for the coming school year, prompting the creation of a tuition agreement with Mohawk. Buoniconti said the current budget proposal doesn’t reflect the addition of another 30 students from Heath.
He said Heath’s additional enrollment may result in hiring additional teaching staff, probably a special education teacher and a classroom teacher.
Capital costs for next year total $42,581, with Charlemont to pay $$33,639 and Hawley to pay $8,942.