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Date: 4/4/2022
FISKDALE – The Tantasqua Regional School Committee met to discuss a variety of agenda items including the Fiscal Year 23 (,FY23) budget and school choice acceptance, at their March 15 meeting.
According to Superintendent Deborah Boyd, the budget for FY23 is 4.4 percent higher than the FY22 budget at a total amount of $26,341,533. The bulk of the budget money will go toward teacher and staff salaries, followed by insurance.
“The good news, and the reason we are moving forward with a 4.4 percent increase, is that we do have a pretty decent increase in Chapter 70 money coming to the district,” said Boyd.
The budget planning process began in January and was first presented to the School Committee in February. At the March 15 meeting, a public hearing was hosted on the budget before a final vote from the School Committee.
During the hearing, Boyd gave an FY23 summary.
She said that the goal is to “present a budget affordable to all five member towns while addressing anticipated post-pandemic student need in the areas of academics and mental health as well as other targeted areas in the district improvement plan.”
These areas consist of curriculum alignment, increased use of technology, new student information system and student support systems to meet all needs and community connections.
“We are still in a place of trying to recover, trying to stabilize and help our students through mental health issues as well as academics coming out of the pandemic,” said Boyd.
After a final vote, the School Committee approved the FY23 budget unanimously. They also approved the FY23 capital plan which will be funded from school choice.
The School Committee then had a further discussion about school choice. Boyd said that they were accepting applications through March 31 and would then start the lottery the first week of April.
As of March 15, they received 33 total applicants for grade 7, two applicants for grade 8, 19 applicants for grade 9 and four applicants for grade 10.
The committee voted to accept the grade 7 students and the grade 8 applicants for FY23.
During the Superintendent’s Report, Boyd said that schools were preparing for MCAS and that the search process for a permanent high school principal is almost complete.
“I think we’re on track for an early April appointment, so looking forward to that,” she said.
The last day of school at Tantasqua will be June 17 if there are no further snow days, according to Boyd. Elementary schools will be going into the week after, given their extra closures.
Those interested in viewing the School Committee meeting in its entirety are encouraged to visit the Sturbridge Community TV YouTube page.