NEW SALEM — In response to budget cuts and some slashed services, a group of North Quabbin runners will usher in the new school year with a 24-hour fundraiser.
The Village Ultra, a series of races and circuits starting in New Salem, will be held over Labor Day weekend in order to raise money and awareness for the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School. Mahar has cut late buses, a private lawn-keeping service, an administrative assistant and two teachers, along with $34,496 from the technology budget and $173,973 from the health insurance budget.
Races will be run from 7 p.m. on Sept. 1 until 7 p.m. on Sept. 2 and include quarter-mile-long pavement loops as well as trail loops and dirt-road loops of varying distances. All will begin and end at the Town Common on South Main Street.
Registration may be done online, and costs $90 for full, 24-hour participation, $50 for 12-hour participation or $10 per hour. Participants may “drop in” and start at any time.
Mahar Superintendent Tari Thomas called the event “a special kind of race” where people can have fun while helping the public middle and high school that serves more than 600 students from New Salem, Orange, Petersham and Wendell.
“As we all know, school budgets are tight and unable to provide many enrichment opportunities as well as essentials as in years past,” Thomas said.
At the Orange annual Town Meeting in June, parents and students expressed dismay at the cuts, particularly the loss of late buses, which students rely on to stay after school for extra help or extracurricular activities.
But with increasing costs at the school — particularly in the areas of Special Education and health care — contractual pay increases and negligible increases in state funds — a 0.35 percent increase for this year — Mahar officials were compelled to make cuts.
The problem was exacerbated by the town of Orange’s financial troubles. Orange, which pays 34 percent of the Mahar budget under its regional agreement, made cuts to the expense budgets for every single department in town this year. The Finance Committee requested that Mahar trim areas of its budget to prevent further cuts at “feeder schools” like Dexter Park Innovation School and Fisher Hill Elementary School in Orange.
“Sometimes it takes a village to do good,” event organizer Carla Halpern said in a statement. “This race reminds us that we can help real people on a local level: bettering our community, providing support to our neighbors and encouraging each other to do our best.”
Halpern said people of all ages are welcome, “from families with small children out for a late summer stroll to ultramarathoners who like to run dozens of miles on the trails.”
The Village Ultra is a “low-key” event, without prizes, Halpern said, but those who complete at least a quarter-of-a-mile run will receive an individualized medal.
There will be places for people to set up tents, as well as volunteers offering food and beverages, and cheering the runners on, according to Halpern.
“The Village Ultra is a terrific opportunity to do good while reaching your personal running and walking goals. Rack up miles for the 100 Mile Club, run or walk your first half marathon, marathon or ultramarathon,” Halpern said. “We will be there and encourage you every step of the way.
“You can run or walk as much or as little as you want,” she added.
Registration is online at: runreg.com/the-village-ultra People may also register at the event beginning at 6 p.m. on Sept. 1.
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.