The CES Newsroom

  • Home
  • CES Stories
  • Local
  • State/National
  • Visit the CES Website

State Senate OKs rural school aid for county districts

Posted on Friday, May 25th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 5/24/2018
Link: Complete Article

Photo by Matt Burkhartt

After years of state, school and town officials beating the drum for rural school aid, rural districts, including Mohawk, Frontier, Pioneer Valley, and the 19 member-town Franklin County Technical School District, could see $100 per student in rural school aid from the state.

Sen. Adam G. Hinds, D-Pittsfield, said Wednesday that the state Senate adopted his Fiscal Year 2019 amendment to establish Rural School Aid, adding $1.5 million in aid to rural schools.

“Rural schools face significant and unique fiscal challenges due to population decline, density and ability to pay,” said Hinds. “This proposal is a direct response to local and regional officials throughout my district, who confront those difficulties. If we do not do something to help these school districts financially, Massachusetts is at risk of providing unequal education opportunities for children who live in rural areas. That cannot be allowed to happen.”

The next step, according to Hinds’s office, is for the House and Senate to appoint a six-member committee to negotiate a final fiscal year budget for approval by both legislative branches.

When reached for comment, state Rep. Stephen Kulik said there is not a similar bill in the House of Representatives, but the Senate bill will be subject to negotiations in conference committee.

The plan, as adopted by the Senate this week, would enable school districts with fewer than 10 students per mile to receive an extra $100 per student in the budget year that begins in July. Hinds says 40 school districts would be eligible to receive this aid, including: Conway, the Tech School, Frontier Regional, Hawlemont, Mohawk Trail Regional School District, Pioneer Valley, Ralph C. Mahar, Rowe and others.

Continue Reading at Greenfield Recorder

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Adam Hinds, Franklin County Technical School, Frontier Regional School District, Mohawk Trail Regional School District, Pioneer Valley Regional School District, rural school aid, Rural School Aid Bill, rural schools, state senate

Quick Links

  • CES Homepage
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us
  • Employment Opportunities

Subscribe by Email

Receive notifications for new posts:


Like Us On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget

Copyright 2023 Collaborative for Educational Services · All Rights Reserved