GREENFIELD — An audible sigh could be heard from the audience watching a unanimous vote take place concerning the public school budget Wednesday evening.
The School Committee voted unanimously to renew the expiring contract of the assistant superintendent for Greenfield public schools. It was originally not included in the superintendent’s proposed budget and will likely add more than $100,000.
The public has raised questions regarding the usefulness of an assistant superintendent position. The position was created two years ago. The current assistant superintendent, Elizabeth Pratt, has held the position for this school year.
“It’s important to our district because it’s important to the centrality of our district,” Superintendent Jordana Harper said.
School Committee member Tim Farrell said the position helps support curriculum, which he said is the most important part of school districts.
Finance subcommittee chairwoman Adrienne Nuñez urged the school committee to postpone the vote until next week for further discussion, but the idea went unsupported.
For parents, it’s a question of how it will potentially alter the education of their students.
“During a funding cut, what’s the required levels to meet the school system versus having it impact the students?” parent Jennifer Perreault said.
The Town Council still has to approve the school budget, which will now include the assistant superintendent’s contract.
Wednesday night’s public hearing, broadcast on GCTV, tabled the vote due on the superintendent’s budget for Monday, March 13.
Harper said the budget had more than a million dollars in costs such as annual required salary bumps.
The committee discussed a grant filed to try to help fund the Green River School, increases in student enrollment and a slight decrease in students going to other districts through School Choice.