No Staff Cuts In North Adams School Budget

The Berkshire Eagle reports North Adams classrooms would be spared any cuts under a 2018-19 budget proposed by schools Superintendent Barbara Malkas.

The $17.67 million budget, which reflects an increase of slightly less than 2 percent over the current spending plan, achieves cost-saving measures elsewhere in the budget.

Malkas said the district focused on meeting its needs without putting additional burdens on the taxpayer.

The School Committee will hold a public hearing and vote on the budget on May 29, in the district's headquarters. If approved, the budget will head to the Finance Committee for review before coming to a vote before the full City Council in June.

The school budget proposal is in line with what was assumed in Mayor Thomas Bernard's citywide budget introduced earlier this year.

The largest increase in the budget is to teaching services, which will rise from $9.13 million to $9.47 million.

Enrollment in the city's school system is expected to decrease by 33 students, from 1,506 to 1,473. Committee member Tara Jacobs praised the budget for prioritizing funding directly to classrooms.