NORTHFIELD — The message of North County residents concerning the proposed Pioneer Valley Regional School District budget was clear Thursday night: $14.5 million is not feasible.
About 75 Pioneer parents and teachers, town officials and other community members attended Pioneer’s budget hearing to voice concerns with the budget, which would increase from approximately $14.1 million. One of the greatest points of contention was how significantly the increase would impact town assessments.
Northfield’s contribution would increase nearly 10 percent to approximately $4.7 million, Warwick’s would increase 1 percent to about $850,000, Leyden’s would increase nearly 4 percent to around $735,000, and Bernardston’s would increase nearly 9 percent to over $3 million. In all, the towns’ contributions would account for more than $9 million of the total budget.
Northfield Finance Committee Chairwoman Lois Stearns read a letter from Selectboard Chairman Jack Spanbauer, stating that such figures would lead to an additional 92 cents on the town’s tax rate and would mean the school budget would account for 56 percent of Northfield’s overall budget. He described the increase as “particularly puzzling,” considering declining enrollment in the schools.
“Something is wrong with this picture,” Spanbauer’s letter read. “We do not want to be in a position where we cannot support the budget.”
“You can’t even propose this,” said Bernardston Selectman Robert Raymond, describing the increase as “ludicrous.” “You know we can’t do it.”
Leyden Selectboard Chairman Jeffrey Neipp agreed, saying the Leyden Selectboard would not support the budget at town meeting.
Given proposed staff cuts primarily at Pioneer, residents were displeased by pay raises for administrators.
Pioneer Principal Jean Bacon said 10 full-time positions, one custodian and four instructional assistants would be cut, along with one administrator. Additionally, one districtwide technical support staff member and Librarian Fiona Chevalier would be reduced to half-time.
By contrast, residents noted that Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent Pam Lawrence would receive a $14,000 raise and Assistant Superintendent Gail Healy would receive a $13,000 raise, including annuity.
Richard Fontaine, a former School Committee member from Leyden, said it “doesn’t seem fiscally responsible” to raise salaries when staff are being cut.
“It’s heavily tilted to administrative salaries and compensations,” Northfield resident Paul Gorzocoski III said of the budget.
Gorzocoski and others also felt the budget’s line items were unclear, as many positions and fees were moved from one line item to another. Gorzocoski considered the changes to be an exercise in “smoke and mirrors.”
“You couldn’t follow, like in years past, the budget,” Gorzocoski said.
Several faculty expressed their opinions on which positions should be saved from cuts.
“If we want to keep robust programs, having a librarian half time would be a detriment,” Chevalier said, advocating for her position.
Science teacher Susan Fisher argued for maintaining the dean of students position. Rows of faculty stood up in support while Fisher read a letter addressed by faculty.
Dean of Students Cathy Hawkins-Harrison, Fisher said, serves as “an invaluable point person,” maintains relationships with students from grades seven to 12, advises about students’ specific learning needs and “seamlessly” oversees Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) testing.
“To many students, Cathy is the calm in the storm,” Fisher read, referencing administrators who resigned last school year. “If any position is going to be cut, it should not be hers.”
“I think losing someone like Cathy only accelerates the trend of losing students,” Fontaine added, referring to the district’s declining enrollment and students “Choicing” to other schools.
The School Committee will meet Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Pioneer, at which time Superintendent Ruth Miller will present alternative budgets with more slight increases from FY17, and highlight what would need to be cut from the current proposed budget to make each alternative possible.
“I think it’s safe to say that the School Committee has come in with the highest number that we are going to consider,” School Committee member David Young said. “We’re going to continue to work on this up until town meeting.”
You can reach Shelby Ashline at: sashline@recorder.com
413-772-0261 ext. 257