Rural School Districts

Commission wants $60M for rural school districts

Posted on Monday, July 18th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Matt Martinez, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 7/12/2022
Link: Complete Article

A state commission called Tuesday for a major funding increase of at least $60 million for rural school districts, money its members say is needed to address issues with transportation, declining enrollment, and costs related to school choice and special education. The recommendation, adopted at the Special Commission on Rural School Districts’ final meeting, would… [Read More]

Hinds and Blais say launch of Rural Schools Commission ‘a big win’ for region

Posted on Thursday, May 13th, 2021 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Anita Fritz, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 5/12/2021
Link: Complete Article

GREENFIELD — State Sen. Adam Hinds and state Rep. Natalie Blais recently chaired the first meeting of the state’s Rural Schools Commission, and they expect that the body will have recommendations by the end of the year for how to permanently fund rural school districts. The commission is tasked with identifying long-term solutions to the… [Read More]

ESE Issues Fiscal Conditions in Rural School Districts Report

Posted on Friday, March 2nd, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Kathy Levesque, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: 3/2/2018

In January, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) filed a report with the Joint Committee on Ways & Means, the Joint Committee on Education and the Commonwealth’s Rural Policy Advisory Commission on Fiscal Conditions in Rural School Districts. The report was part of a feasibility study requested by the legislature, relative to establishing… [Read More]

Union 38 asks for state transportation funding

Posted on Friday, December 29th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Andy Castillo, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 12/27/2017
Link: Complete Article

DEERFIELD — District officials from Union 38 schools are calling on state legislators to uphold their end of the bargain and fully fund regional transportation costs. “I write to respectfully request your support of Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71, Section 16C, which calls for the full reimbursement of transportation costs for regional school districts for… [Read More]

Rural schools develop state aid proposal

Posted on Friday, September 30th, 2016 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, The Gazette
Date: 9/30/2016
Link: Complete Article

BUCKLAND, MA — Saying about 50,000 rural students attend public schools that are in “severe fiscal crisis,” Mohawk Superintendent Michael Buoniconti will ask the Massachusetts Rural Schools Coalition to review a draft proposal that seeks more Chapter 70 state aid for rural schools with the highest enrollment declines, the lowest per capita income and flat-level… [Read More]