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Hoosac Valley committee adopts changes to regional funding formula
Summary
The School Committee unanimously adopted amendments to the regional district agreement that move above-minimum town assessments from a single-year enrollment basis to a five-year rolling average and clarify budget definitions; the revisions will go to member towns for approval and then to the state education commissioner.
The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee voted Jan. 12 to adopt recommended revisions to the district’s regional agreement aimed at reducing year-to-year funding volatility for member towns.
Under the adopted amendment, above-minimum town assessments will be calculated using a five-year rolling average rather than a single-year enrollment figure. The revision also adds statutory and legal clarifications and defines the annual maintenance and operating budget to exclude grants and revolving funds.
John Duval moved adoption of the revisions; Jen Solak seconded the motion. The committee recorded a unanimous vote to adopt the amendment. The revised agreement will be presented to member towns for their approval and, if approved locally, submitted to the Commissioner of Elementary & Secondary Education for final review.
Committee members described the change to a rolling average as a means to reduce funding volatility in smaller member towns; the amendment does not itself set assessments but alters the formula by which assessments would be calculated going forward.
Next steps include distribution of the approved amendment to town officials and a schedule for local approvals prior to submission to the state.
