Committee hears impact of cuts on school district
"Had we not had a failed override I might feel differently, but I really feel like we could use the $18,000." - LEONARD BEATON, SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

School Committee members heard the reports from principals of the district's five schools and the head of the Special Education Department on Tuesday night about the impact of the failed override.

"We are going to have to discuss building use," said Oakmont Regional High School's new Principal David Uminski.

Some of the positions being cut are custodians, which may require buildings to close earlier in the evening and some afternoons.

"This is all being done to mitigate the effect on the child in the classroom," said School Committee Chairman David Christianson.

The district reduced 32 positions, the equivalent of 25 full-time positions, after the failure of a $1.2 million override in Ashburnham and Westminster on June 12.

On June 13, the committee recertified a lower budget figure of $27,555,571. The towns are being asked to fund the additional money that was not appropriated as part of the towns' operating budget at the May town meetings.

Ashburnham is being asked for an additional $313,687 and Westminster is being asked for an additional $429,459, which represent their proportional share of the budget.

It is expected that the towns will hold special town meetings within 45 days of the recertification to let resident vote on whether to appropriate the additional funds.

Some of the cuts being made are in the Special Education Department, and Director Alan Childs said the district will be in violation of students' individual education plans.

"We can't do more with less," he said.

The violations of those plans may be appealed the state Department of Education and if a complaint is found valid it could raise questions about receiving federal funding.

Christianson told fellow committee members that they will be accused of making threats and taking retribution for the failed overrides as they discuss these cuts.

In other business:

+ The committee voted again to table the issue of lowering the assessment to Ashburnham and Westminster based on the value of the rent Ashburnham is paying to use part of the high school as town offices.

The committee voted to table the issue at their last meeting on June 13, and then voted to bring it back for discussion at the end of Tuesday's meeting.

Christianson and School Committee member Keith Glenny said they stood by their recommendation to lower the assessment as discussed with Ashburnham selectmen in an executive session meeting at the beginning of the month.

Christianson said the discussions were held in "good faith" and that while he might have personal feelings for resentment it, he could not take back his recommendation.

Many members of the School Committee spoke out against reducing the assessment during the fiscal crisis. The rent the committee discussed is $18,000, including utilities, and would be split between Ashburnham and Westminster based on their student population.

"Had we not had a failed override I might feel differently, but I really feel like we could use the $18,000," said School Committee Member Leonard Beaton.

The sentiment was echoed by other committee members, including Gwen Farley, who asked if the reduction should come with a price to their "own detriment."

Committee member Jamie Rheult spoke in favor of reducing the assessment because of the spirit of the agreement.

"I believe they didn't anticipate the costs for moving to this facility," Glenny said.

Town officials have said the cost has risen above the expected moving costs because of additional requirements placed on them by the school district.

Glenny moved that the issue be tabled until the committee's July 17 meeting, a motion that passed 5-3.

+ The committee voted to accept a request for proposal for a private company, Chartwell's, to manage the food service department. The staff will continue to be employees of the school district but the management and the food will be handled by the company.

The district has spent the last year struggling to make the food services department profitable. The goal is that under new management this will succeed.

+ The committee also voted to accept the O'Brien and Sons Company's bid for $42,899 to install bleachersThemoney was donated by private donations and collected through the OakmonBooster Club.