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Date: 3/23/2022
HUNTINGTON – At its March 15 meeting, the Gateway Regional School Committee unanimously voted to approve a fiscal 2023 budget of $16,747,274, an increase of $80,541 over the fiscal 2022 budget. Superintendent Kristen Smidy said the spending is increasing the most in the areas of instructional services, student services, oil and fixed charges.
The School Committee voted 9-2 to ask the towns to vote on the alternative assessment method for their above-minimum contributions this year. Middlefield representatives Michael LaFleur and Michael Morrissey voted “no.”
Smidy said this is the last year of a five-year pilot, in which the alternative assessment is based on an equal distribution of the increase to all six member towns, which would amount to a 2.1 percent increase this year.
In the statutory assessment which is based on the March 1 census, three towns would have an increased assessment, and three towns would decrease. All six towns must approve the alternative assessment in order for it to be adopted.
Under unfinished business, on a similar 9-2 vote with the Middlefield representatives dissenting, the final draft of the revised Regional Agreement was approved to be sent to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Smidy said there had been no changes in the draft agreement since February, and DESE was looking for School Committee approval before bringing it to the state education commissioner for his approval. The agreement will then go to the towns, where it will need to be put on the warrant for a vote at the Annual Town Meetings.
The current Regional Agreement is out of date and not considered in compliance with state regulations.
Smidy said the regional agreement outlines how the six towns work together and communicate with each other, and how the School Committee conducts business and votes. It also covers how towns can enter or leave the agreement. She said district staff worked to update the concerns and final feedback from the select boards in the various towns.
“We’re trying to listen to everyone,” said Gateway business administrator Stephanie Fisk.
The district has been working on revising the regional agreement between the six member towns since 2018.