NEW SALEM — As many as five paraprofessional positions at Swift River School are on the chopping block as skyrocketing health insurance costs put a financial strain on the district, but voters can adopt an override next month to help reduce the number of layoffs.
Superintendent Shannon White-Cleveland said she hopes the school can limit cuts as much as possible, but she believes some are likely inevitable.
“There’s very few avenues in a small, rural budget,” she said. “We don’t have enough … to absorb these costs.”
New Salem Town Coordinator Emily Hill said the override question will appear on the May 4 election ballot. She said a public hearing and information session is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the New Salem Public Library on Tuesday, April 21. The election will be held one week before Annual Town Meeting, set for Monday, May 11.
Swift River School’s proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2027 is nearly $3.58 million. This figure would increase overall spending by 2.87%, while cutting the equivalent of at least five paraprofessional positions. Health insurance costs account for $572,327.
The school’s health insurance provider is the Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust (HCGIT), which provides coverage to at least 12,000 active and retired municipal employees and their eligible dependents. Members voted in July 2025, after the new fiscal year had begun, to increase members’ rates by an additional 20%, effective Oct. 1. The members were informed that the trust was at risk of going bankrupt due to increased pharmaceutical and medical claims and the growing popularity of weight-loss drugs. Members of the trust then voted on Feb. 25 to increase the rates for FY27 by 12.48%.
Meanwhile, Chapter 70 state aid to Swift River School is increasing by only 0.74%.
“Rural schools are being hit disproportionately harder,” White-Cleveland said.
New Salem shares Swift River School with neighboring Wendell. That town’s Finance Committee has been working with the New Salem Finance Committee, Swift River School administrators and School Committee members on the budget since January.
“At this time, Wendell is carrying the override option in our draft budget,” the Wendell Finance Committee said in a statement. “We will await the outcome of New Salem’s override vote before finalizing our budget in advance of the Annual Town Meeting.”
Wendell’s Annual Town Meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 6.
