NORTHFIELD — Pioneer Valley Regional School District officials expect that closing the schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic will save the district roughly $235,000.
Both Director of Finance Tanya Gaylord and Superintendent Jonathan Scagel said this money will help the district offset budget increases in years to come, particularly during the next two to three years in which the financial implications of the pandemic are expected to last. Having the budgetary buffer will result in smaller assessment increases to the four district towns.
The savings has allowed the district to cover expenses that were unanticipated due to the COVID-19 closures. The School Committee voted to continue paying all support and teaching staff, despite revenues from school lunch services and after-school and preschool programs ceasing. Additionally, some of the savings will decrease the amount of School Choice money needed to cover expenses.
A meeting was held last week with Scagel, Selectboard and Finance Committee members from the four district towns, School Committee Chair Kristen Gonzalez and Financial Overseer Rick Kingsley. Gaylord and Scagel discussed the budgets, which will be presented to the School Committee on Wednesday, and the potential decrease in assessments to the towns.
According to Scagel, Kingsley said the budget reduction, now estimated at roughly $464,000, is the largest proposed by any school district in the state. Scagel said this is the result of effort put forth by the school administration to assist the towns during this lasting crisis, while still providing a strong education to all students in the district.
“Pioneer has come a long way financially in a short two years, and I feel that has allowed us to face the current crisis with confidence and know we will come out of this on top,” Gaylord said.
According to Gaylord, the Pioneer school district will see some savings on spring athletic and coaching expenses. With sports seasons canceled, the district is not spending money on transporting students to games.
During a recent School Committee meeting, an agreement was signed to pay spring coaches 25 percent of their usual stipends for the season, as they conducted preseason planning and scheduling, and are providing students with remote training exercises for the rest of the year. Gaylord said the average full coaching stipend is $2,500.
Gaylord said the district is saving roughly $24,000 by not having to bus students to games, $31,000 in coaching costs and $9,736 in referee expenses.
Full-time teaching staff will still be paid in full, in accordance with recently renewed agreements between the Pioneer Valley Regional Education Association and the School Committee. Roughly $41,000 in savings comes from not needing substitute teachers at this time.
Further savings come from a recent agreement approved between the school district and the F.M. Kuzmeskus bus company. The agreement will see Pioneer still paying 78 percent of its usual contract. Gaylord estimated Pioneer will save more than $50,000 by not having to pay the full contract.
During a recent School Committee meeting, Gaylord said the agreement with F.M. Kuzmeskus will cover required costs to service the district in the next school year, and help fund health insurance policies for the bus company’s employees. Other districts in the county have established similar agreements with F.M. Kuzmeskus.
Additionally, Gaylord said the district is saving about $33,000 in energy costs due to the COVID-19 closures. Some faculty still have access, however, so the buildings are not completely shuttered.
Some districts across Massachusetts could have increased costs from remote learning. Fortunately for Pioneer, Gaylord said, the district already had the technological tools and systems in place to supplement remote learning, and saw no notable expenses related to the transition.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.