STOCKBRIDGE â As it begins to look toward a gradual reopening of in-person school and grapples with coronavirus pandemic complications, the Berkshire Hills Regional School District on Thursday quickly approved its fiscal 2022 budget.
At a virtual public hearing, the School Committee voted unanimously for net operating costs of $28.3 million, and a capital budget of $1.96 million.
Less state and other aid, the total net assessment to Great Barrington, West Stockbridge and Stockbridge, is $24.7 million, a 3.2 percent increase over this year.
Great Barrington pays 75 percent of those costs, since it sends the majority of students to district schools.
Because of a complex state formula, and the number of students from each town, Great Barrington will see a nearly 5 percent hike over fiscal 2021, an $18.4 million assessment; Stockbridgeâs increase will be over 7 percent, to $3.2 million; and West Stockbridge will see a 3 percent decrease, also at $3.2 million.
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STOCKBRIDGE â Amid some gains, concerns of âlearning lossâ and a âskeletonâ crew due to COVID-19 fears, the Berkshire Hills Regional School Districtâs School Committee on Thursday presented its proposed new budget for 2021-2022.
Superintendent Peter Dillon said the districtâs priority for next year is full in-person learning, and that educators will have to address âpandemic impactsâ to students like âisolation, mental health, disconnection.â
âAnd I have to say this very carefully: issues connected to learning â learning loss,â he added.
For what Dillon said is a âleanâ budget, operating and capital expenses are up 3.2 percent over last year in a $24.7 million budget. Last yearâs increase was 4.7 percent.
GREAT BARRINGTON â Though an intersection is under scrutiny after a deadly wreck in December, public safety officials and residents say the junction, historically, has been safe. Changing or closing it would cause other problems, they say.
The Select Board, in a 4-1 vote Monday, decided to add signs marking the intersection of Lovers Lane and Route 7 as dangerous â but to not change traffic patterns for now.
Board member Leigh Davis voted ânoâ to only posting signs there because she wants left turns prohibited out of Lovers Lane onto Route 7 heading south.
âI just hope that you guys prove me wrong and we donât have another fatality,â she said.
The leader of the Berkshire Hills Regional School District is pushing back the return to in-person education, citing concerning levels of COVID-19 transmission in Great Barrington.