WILBRAHAM – The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District (HWRSD) may see at least $246,000 in additional funding from the state for Chapters 70 and 71 aid, which could be used to help close a budget gap of more than $537,000.

Assistant Superintendent for Business Beth Regulbuto told Reminder Publications the funds could be used to mitigate the shortfall, pending approval by the School Committee.

“If no other variables changed, we would reduce that by half,” she noted. “But we want to be considerate of the School Committee’s decision on where to allocate those additional funds if they come in. That will be their decision.”

HWRSD proposed cutting 9.5 full-time equivalent teaching positions to close the fiscal year 2017 budget gap

She added HWRSD has yet to see what the minimal local contributions from Wilbraham and Hampden would be.

“That number hasn’t been released and won’t be released until June, so that sometimes changes,” she noted. “If the towns have to contribute less, then some of that increased in funding will have to be made up somewhere else.”

The current Chapter 71 regional transportation reimbursement rate is 65 percent and could jump up to 71 or 72 percent, Regulbuto said.

“As the budget is moving through the state process, regional transportation has changed,” she explained. “It has gone to an estimated 72 percent, I believe, in the House [of Representatives] Ways and Means version and the Senate Ways and Means is down to 71 percent. In total, right now, there is definitely an increase over what we anticipated in the tune of around $140,000.”

Regulbuto said although Chapter 71 aid would likely increase, the amount is “nowhere near” the 100 percent reimbursement level mandated by state law.  

Chapter 71 has never been fully funded for HWRSD.

Regulbuto said there is still legislation being discussed to bring regional transportation aid up to at least 80 percent.

“I don’t know the viability, but I know people are still working on that,” she explained.  

She said HWRSD was originally slated to receive $1.31 million in Chapter 71, which would increase to $1.43 million if the House or Senate versions of the state budget are approved. Chapter 70 aid could also increase by $106,000.

“We still have to get through the conference committee and the final signature with the governor before any of this is completely finalized,” she noted.  

State Sen. Eric Lesser did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.

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