Gateway Regional School District’s $16 million budget passes

July 8, 2020 | Amy Porter
amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com

HILLTOWNS – The Gateway Regional School District fiscal year 2021 budget was approved in the annual meetings of five of its six member towns, with Russell’s meeting scheduled for July 6. The five towns that passed the budget are Huntington, Chester, Blandford, Middlefield and Montgomery.

Only four towns are needed to approve the traditional statutory assessment based on the March 1 student census in the towns. The alternative assessment, which increases all of the towns by the same percentage as the school budget, a less than two percent increase this year, requires six towns for passage. With Middlefield’s passage of the statutory assessment this year, a lower amount for them this year, the alternative method could not go forward.

Chester passed the alternative assessment, which this year was more than the statutory amount for the town. The town also passed a warrant to put the difference in the two amounts into an Education Stabilization Fund to help offset future increases in the school budget.

“The passing of the alternative was also a way for Chester voters to continue to express their support for the Alternative method, even if it did not meet the criteria of unanimously passing in all six Gateway towns.  We – the Selectboard – along with Chester's Finance Committee, still believe the Alternative method is the most equitable path for school budgeting,” said Chester Selectman Barbara Huntoon.

Gateway Superintendent David B. Hopson said the $16 million budget that passed the towns is the same one that he presented at a public hearing on March 4.  

However, he said even with the passage by the towns, there is still uncertainty for the district, due to the unknown amount coming from the state.

“Now we know we have town revenue, but the state revenue makes up a good portion of our revenue,” Hopson said.

Hopson said if the district sustains a large cut in state aid, all of the employee unions have agreed to up to a five percent furlough to protect their positions, which will be enough as long as the state reduction doesn’t exceed ten percent.

“Kudos to the staff to be willing to take up to a five percent furlough to cover and be able to cover other staff members,” Hopson said, adding, “If money comes from the feds and the state can continue to level fund Chapter 70, there won’t have to be any furloughs.”

The superintendent called it “a crazy year in the budget,” probably worse than 2003 and 2004, when Gateway lost $2 million. In 2004, the district laid off 38 staff members after sustaining  a $1.8 million from the state, following a $200,000 9C cut due to deficiency in state revenue at the end of 2003.

Hopson said the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has asked each district to provide a level service budget as they plan for their return to school; however, he said the costs for level services will be going up considerably.    

While federal CARES Act funds have been received for COVID-related activities, the transportation guidelines haven’t been released, and if they have to put bus monitors on every bus, that cost will equal the COVID funds they have received.

Added to that, Hopson said, will be costs for face masks, cleaning, protective gear and the rest.

“Given the number of unknowns, I think we have some great people working on our plans to reopen,” Hopson said, adding that they started the planning process last week. He said there are 26 people working on the plans, including members of the Board of Health and emergency services from the towns.  The plans have to include the three scenarios of in-school learning, remote learning and a hybrid model.

“Our goal is to have the plans ready to submit by August, and to take input from parents and community members throughout the process,” he said.  School will reconvene at the end of August.

“This was a tough year for the towns and the schools, with talk of a 25 percent reduction in local aid to towns, and a 25 percent reduction to schools. Could be we won’t have a budget until the fall.  Doubly difficult, then halfway through the year. If we lost more than anticipated, there will be even deeper cuts,” Hopson said.  

While there is a federal stimulus bill that includes money to help the states with lost revenue, its passage “depends on if you listen to the democrats or the republicans,” he said. The state legislature is waiting until July 15 or shortly thereafter to wait for tax revenue before setting its budget.  “I wouldn’t want to be in their shoes either,” Hopson said.

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