LEYDEN — Despite a passing vote for Leyden’s portion of the fiscal year 2020 school budget on Tuesday, the town may need to hold another Special Town Meeting for a re-vote, unless the state Department of Revenue grants the town an exception.
According to Tanya Gaylord, Pioneer Valley Regional School District’s director of finance, the town’s vote is not yet official because Leyden did not approve a coinciding $2,681.29 for Leyden’s share of the Pioneer capital project assessment.
Gaylord explained that the two votes were required to be made together, approving a total sum of $792,784.29 for both the operating and capital project budgets. Because the votes were not made simultaneously, Leyden may need to hold another Special Town Meeting.
After lengthy discussion on Tuesday night, the Selectboard, Finance Committee and residents voted 38 to 4 to raise and appropriate $790,103, representing Leyden’s share of the school district’s operating budget.
The approved figure was about $4,000 lower than the one proposed earlier this spring, following reassessment and approval of the overall budget from the Pioneer School Committee. Selectboard Chairman Jeffrey Neipp said that while the figure is “not much of a savings, it is a reduction.”
The final vote saw all members of town government voting in favor of the motion, with all four “no” votes coming from Leyden residents.
Before the vote, residents spoke up regarding their concerns surrounding the budget and school district.
Ann Zaveruka expressed concern with how the closure of Leyden’s Pearl Rhodes Elementary School will affect the town. She said this closure would stop potential families with children from moving into town, adding she was worried about taxes and property values.
“Nobody would buy a house in a town that didn’t have an elementary school,” Zaveruka said.
Karin Parks, who attended the meeting with her young daughter who will now be attending Bernardston Elementary School, responded to Zaveruka’s comments.
“We moved back to town to go to Pearl Rhodes,” Parks said. “At this point, we’re happy to go to Bernardston Elementary because we will get a better experience. We will have more friends and a gym. … Bernardston has opened their arms to us. As far as I see, we are actually going to be in better shape.”
Jerry Levine said his concerns were not about the money, but rather with Superintendent Jonathan Scagel’s “attitude” and his lengthy five-year contract, which has been declared too generous for a first-time superintendent by officials from the four Pioneer school district towns.
“I wish the superintendent would come forward and express willingness to renegotiate his contract,” Levine said. “I want the superintendent to say he’s willing to give a little, too.”
Neipp noted he was displeased when the superintendent’s lengthy contract was signed. He said long-term contracts are difficult to plan for as they “throw too much money on the table.” He added that the district might be listening to this complaint, however, having recently signed a single-year contract with a new business manager.
After discussion, Neipp called the meeting to a vote on the $790,103 figure for the town’s portion of the operating budget. With this approval, Leyden was the first town in the Pioneer school district to approve its portion of the new budget.
Administrative Assistant Michele Giarusso said Leyden will schedule another Special Town Meeting if it hears from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue that another vote is necessary.
Bernardston plans to hold a Special Town Meeting to vote on its portion of the budget at Bernardston Elementary on Monday, Aug. 19. The time has yet to be determined.
Northfield had previously approved its portion of the budget in June. According to Northfield Town Clerk Dan Campbell, the town will not need to vote for re-approval.
Warwick Town Coordinator David Young said Warwick will hold a “no-vote” on the issue. According to Gaylord, by not holding a Special Town Meeting and taking a vote, this constitutes an acceptance of the budget for Warwick.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 264.