Frontier Regional School Committee advances reduced $13.8 million FY27 budget 9-1

School Committee · Meeting of March 3, 2026

WHATELY -- Frontier Regional District School Committee voted 9-1 to advance a $13.8 million fiscal year 2027 budget to a final Thursday vote, with the school's only certified librarian among the positions slated for elimination. The 3.94 percent spending increase, down from an original 6.95 percent level-service proposal, reflects roughly $400,000 in cuts, including a swap from a certified library media specialist to a library aide and reductions to instructional assistants, a part-time adjustment counselor, and a special education teacher. More than a dozen speakers during the public hearing urged the committee to spare the librarian, with high school English teacher Melissa Strelke warning that eliminating the position would cost students access to over 40 research databases and lower math and reading scores.

Updated health insurance figures from Hampshire County Group Insurance Trust, a 12.48 percent increase approved 55-27, well below the 20 percent placeholder, freed up roughly $150,000, but motions to use those savings to preserve the librarian or other positions each failed, the Option B position-preservation motion falling 4-6 and a librarian-specific Option C failing 1-9. The committee also unanimously authorized administration to proceed with the bidding process for a long-deferred parking lot renovation, funded through school choice reserves.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of March 3, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.