CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee on Monday approved a level-service budget for fiscal 2027 of $23,990,355 that includes staffing cuts and use of reserve funds.

 

Adams will see its total assessment rise by $193,745, or just under 3 percent, to $6,814,144; Cheshire's assessment is up about the same, at $196,900, or about 6 percent, to $3,402,982. 

 

Overall, the budget is up 3.22 percent over this year, an increase of $853,719. That's about half what had been proposed in February. 

 

To get there, the district is reducing staff by $362,000, and shifting another $514,000 in staff costs to rural aid and school choice funds. 

 

"Any time you're talking about productions, it's a tough conversation. There are no easy decisions to make," Superintendent Aaron Dean told the School Committee. "We've really looked at how we can utilize staff we have for student support in both the middle school and high school, and kind of reallocate some of the duties similarly."

 

Cuts include not replacing a retiring full-time school adjustment counselor, which is opposed by the Special Education Parent Advisory Council.

 

"Many families have spoken up that their students feel comfortable attending school because of the support of the SAC and by spreading the remaining portion to fit, we perceive students losing their confidence to attend school, feeling that they wouldn't have the support that they need in place," a member of SEPAC read in open forum. "SEPAC respectfully urges the School Committee to carefully consider the impact that any proposed reductions they have on the district's ability to meet its legal obligations."