Hoosac Valley Regional reviews preliminary FY2027 budget as special-education and charter costs push up town assessments

The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee met March 16, 2026, at Hoosac Valley High School to review a preliminary FY2027 budget that committee leaders and staff said is being driven upward by rising special-education expenses, higher insurance costs and mandated charter and school-choice assessments.

Superintendent Aaron Dean told the committee that the district faces “multifaceted challenges” including increasing student needs requiring specialized services, shortages of qualified staff and escalating costs for out-of-district placements and one-to-one supports. He said special-education costs have increased by about 22% and that projected out-of-district tuition for 10–12 students could total roughly $1.3–$1.6 million in FY27. The superintendent cited one example of an out-of-district tuition rate rising from $67,000 to $120,000 as illustrative of cost volatility.

The Business Manager reviewed revenue and expenditure assumptions, saying Chapter 70 funding is projected to rise by about $375,000 and that charter tuition reimbursement was estimated using 72 charter students. Major expenditure drivers include a health-insurance increase of $351,951 and a charter/choice assessment increase of $437,813. Early projections discussed at the meeting showed a level-service budget increase of $1,579,735 (about 6.83%), which would have produced a higher total; a revised budget presented to the committee reduced that increase, setting a proposed FY27 total at $23,990,355 (an increase of $853,719, or 3.69%).

Under the revised plan the Town of Adams assessment would be $6,169,351 (up $211,148, or 3.54%) and the Town of Cheshire assessment $3,174,989 (up $177,446, or 5.92%). The superintendent said he intends to continue pursuing a five-year averaging amendment with municipal officials and, if approved in future town meetings, to implement it in FY28 to smooth year-to-year assessment volatility.

To address the projected gap, staff outlined several staffing changes and reallocations, with attrition prioritized where possible. The district proposed eliminating one high-school adjustment-counselor position through retirement, removing an elementary library/media position, reassigning a middle-school STEM position (partially offset by shifting a shared music position), realigning a special-education coordinator role and reorganizing a high-school secretary position. The district also plans to restructure the RESET program into a shared middle/high model with a coordinator and paraprofessional.

Administrators warned that some in-district program capacities are strained. The superintendent said Bridges enrollment is projected at about 15 students—above the program cap of 12—which could make in-district staffing increases necessary to avoid an estimated $600,000 in out-of-district costs compared with roughly $215,000 to expand in-district services.

Principals from the district described the budget process as highly iterative and emotionally taxing. Elementary leaders cited progress in early literacy and math, while middle- and high-school administrators flagged larger class sizes, behavioral referrals—especially in grade 8—and attendance and transition-related concerns that complicate staffing and scheduling.

Committee members and staff discussed the financial impact of school choice and charter students. The district reported about 130 school choice-out students (down from 147) and roughly 72 charter students; together mandated tuition and assessments send about $1.3 million, or roughly 5% of the budget, out of the district each year. Members emphasized those costs are statutory and largely outside local control and urged clear communication to town residents about which dollars are pass-through obligations versus resources that remain in district classrooms.

No formal vote on the FY27 budget was taken at the meeting. The committee did vote to approve the Feb. 9, 2026 meeting minutes (motion by Fred Lora, second by John Duval) and later voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:27 p.m. (motion by Adam Emerson, second by Tracey Tierney).

The superintendent said staff will continue refining the budget and advised that the five-year averaging amendment remains a priority to reduce future assessment volatility; he encouraged continued dialogue with town officials and town meetings as the next procedural steps.