Budget

At last Thursday’s the School Committee meeting, I presented our draft budget (Link to FY25 Budget) with Business Administrator Sharon Harrison.

The budget process, which starts in the fall, consists of several meetings with the Finance Sub-Committee, school and district administration, and then gets presented to the School Committee and public. Last night was the first presentation. 

In the coming weeks there are several important meetings. We will have the budget public hearing on February 29, 2024 (which might include a budget vote) and you can attend in person or by Zoom. You can find links to the meeting at: https://www.bhrsd.org/school-committee-meeting-agenda-upcoming/ which will be updated a week before the meeting.

This process culminates in a School Committee vote on March 7, 2024 and then town votes on these dates: 

• Great Barrington-May 6, 2024, 
• West Stockbridge-May 6, 2024, 
• and Stockbridge-May 20, 2024. 

As I shared in the meeting, we are going into a more challenging budget cycle and worked hard to limit the growth of our budget to keep assessments to our towns (and your tax rates) to a minimum. Revenue has not increased proportionately with inflation and our costs have. Grants connected to COVID-19 have ended.

In turn, I recommended reductions in each of the schools and at the district office. 

Through many meetings and discussions across buildings and departments, the principals and I arrived at the following recommendations:

Muddy Brook — the reduction of one early grade section due to anticipated decreases in enrollment.

Du Bois — the reduction and potential reallocation of one special education position due to changes in enrollment.

Monument Mountain — the reduction and reallocation of a social studies position, an interventionist position, and .5 math position due to changes in enrollment. Some of these departments will not absorb the full impact of the reduction since we have teachers who hold multiple licenses and can teach across departments/subjects. 

District — the reduction of the DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) position was an initial suggestion as I thought the work might be better supported by consultants in discrete and overlapping areas.

In response to some of the feedback I received from the School Committee Thursday night and in recognition of our ongoing commitment to addressing broader issues, I am shifting my recommendation to reinstate the DEIB role and fund it through grant funds for next year. The role may shift some to make it even more impactful in each of the school communities.

Police Search

The Great Barrington Police search at our Du Bois Middle School has drawn significant attention and press. We hosted several public meetings and apologized for our and my response. The School Committee hired an investigator to look into what happened and that report will be shared soon. We are working hard to reflect and to update and revise our policies and procedures. We are additionally working to support students, families and staff. We hope to rebuild trust and move forward together. 

(See Stockbridge Updates, February 1, 2024, issue for Board Resolutions)

Please reach out to me if you have any questions and continue to join our budget and other meetings at peter.dillon@bhrsd.org