HAWLEMONT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

HAWLEMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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A guide to the 2026-2027 operating budget for the Hawlemont Regional School District

A message from

Superintendent Sheryl Stanton

We are pleased to present to our community the FY27 budget for the Hawlemont Regional School District. Being mindful of our towns’ needs as well as our own, we have proposed no new initiatives while maintaining our strong commitment to programs that are producing exciting improvements in student achievement, especially in literacy and math.

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To this end, our budget continues to support development of innovative curricular pathways and hands on learning opportunities.

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As always, we are very grateful for the support of both towns and taxpayers. The school committee has worked closely with school administration to develop this budget, offering both criticism and encouragement, and we truly value their participation. We are also appreciative of the support for our District that Town Meeting voters have long provided. As we seek ways to maintain academic excellence and become financially sustainable, we hope to continue to be deserving of that support.

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Introduction

This budget book is meant to provide residents with a concrete picture of the elements that build our Hawlemont Regional School District budget. We encourage you to read through these materials to prepare yourself to vote at your Town Meeting.

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Even more information may be found on the Mohawk Trail Regional School District Business Services web page at: https://www.mtrsd.org/Business-Services

Once there, scroll down to find and click the FY2027 HRSD Budget Information button or click here for direct access to the FY2027 budget spreadsheet.

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You will find the complete line-by-line budget, other related materials of interest, and the slide presentation from the school committee public hearing.

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It is our hope that, in being transparent, we have earned your confidence resulting in your vote to pass the budget for FY2027

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Our FY27 Budget Goals

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In the FY27 budget, we aim to continue providing outstanding educational opportunities while managing increased fixed costs and unanticipated expenses from the current FY26 fiscal year. Through our work with BERK12 and the 2D8T Steering Committee, we’ve created models of change to bring to our community to address the imbalance of flat funding to increasing expenses in our district. We continue to use the Strategic Plan to align our work.

For more information on the 2 District 8 Town Sustainability study visit: https://www.2districts8towns.org/ or scan this QR code with your smartphone:

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Expense Drivers

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Salary and Benefits

Contractual obligations related to salaries and benefits

FY2027 Overview

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Fixed Cost Increases for FY27

• Fixed-Cost Increases – $234,433 (contractual increases in salaries, benefits, transportation, insurance, and tuition)
• $82,433 in salaries
• $52,000 for health insurance costs
• $100,000 out of district special education placements

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• We also have approximately $250,000 less school choice revolving funds to use to lower the local assessment. The district has relied heavily on this account for the last 3-4 years and used up the surplus funds leaving only the current revenues.

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Budget Overview, All Funds: $ 3,098,176

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All Funds Budget = $3,098,176

represents the anticipated expenses for the 2026-2027 school year

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Offsets = $522,241

grants and revolving funds

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Non-Assessment Revenues = $826,640

includes Chapter 70 funding, charter school reimbursement, transportation revenue, and interest income

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Operating Assessment = $1,749,295

The amount needed from the district towns to run our district based on this budget

$3,098,176

• 522,241

$2,575,935

• 826,640

$1,749,295

All Revenue

Offsets

Operating Assessment

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Operating Assessment

All Funds Budget

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All expenditures, including offsets from grants and

revolving funds.

All Funds Budget totals

$ 3,098,176

a decrease of

-$70,901 (-2.42%)

over FY26.

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Local Budget

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All Funds Budget LESS $522,241 in offsets

from grants and revolving funds

The Local Budget is $2,582,015

an increase of

$114,556 (4.64%)

over FY26.

Total Operating Assessment

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Local Budget LESS

all non-assessment revenues* totaling

$826,640

The Total Operating

Assessment

is $1,749,295

an increase of

$82,839 (4.97%)

over FY26.

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* Chapter 70 funding, charter school reimbursement, transportation revenue, tuition, and interest income

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Operating Funds Comparison

Where Does Our Funding Come From?

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Where Does Our Funding Come From?

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Towns’ Responsibility and Ability to Pay

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�The members of the school committee, budget subcommittee, and school administration recognize the burden and responsibility towns experience when considering increases in the education portion of their town operating budget.

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The FY26 budget was $3,162,177. To present a level service budget for FY27 for the Hawlemont School District with the fixed cost increases, we were looking at a budget of $3,396,611, an increase of $ 234,433 or 7%.

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We have worked to reduce the overall costs by approximately two hundred thousand dollars, decreasing the all funds budget from $3,309,036 to $3,098,176. The FY27 budget is lower than the FY26 budget by $70,000. We understand that a preferred increase for our towns would not exceed 2.5% knowing an override may need to be necessary in this case. Unfortunately, even with the work we have done to reduce the all funds expenses to less than they were last year, Charlemont is at 7.42%

�If the budget is not passed by our towns, our district will be forced to operate under a “one-twelfth budget” - the budget rolls back to the FY2026 figures and the school district operates month-to-month. Ultimately, if this happens, our school district will be funded at last years amount which will mean an even larger increase for the town of Charlemont.

More on the “One-Twelfth Budget”

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�A “1/12 budget” (often called an interim monthly budget) is what a Massachusetts regional school district may be forced to operate under when its member towns do not approve the annual district budget by the start of the fiscal year (July 1). It’s meant to keep schools legally funded in the short term, but it’s also a powerful constraint—financially, operationally, and educationally. It is less than level services, and may negatively affect outcomes for students and faculty.

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What a 1/12 budget actually is:

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Under a 1/12 budget, the district is typically allowed to spend only a limited amount each month—commonly one-twelfth of the prior year’s total appropriation (or another level set by the state). The key point isn’t just “less money.” It’s that spending becomes:

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• Temporary (month-to-month)
• Capped (a hard ceiling)
• Uncertain (you don’t know how long it will last)

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***FROM CHAT GPT

Reductions Made To The Initial Expenses for FY27

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FY27 Reduction In Force

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�As fixed cost expenses continue to increase, the district is forced to reduce expenses through other areas. This unfortunately includes personnel, as that is the only other place to make reductions in the budget.

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Reductions In Force Include:

Unit A Three reductions in Unit A positions (1 FTE, two half-time reductions)

Unit B 1.5 reductions in Unit B positions (1 full-time paraprofessional and the

part-time position was an open, unfilled position.)

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FTE Full Time Equivalent

Unit A Teaching positions include classroom, special education, nursing, etc.

Unit B Paraprofessionals

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FY27 Increases By Cost Center

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FY26-FY27 Funding Sources

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State Aid

Assessment to Towns

Other Revenue

FY27 Expenditures by DESE Code

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FY27 Expenditures by Department

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Enrollment

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FY25-FY26 Assessment Comparison

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FY26-FY27 Minimum Required Contribution Comparison

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FY26-FY27 Above Minimum Contribution Comparison

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FY26-FY27 Transportation Assessment Comparison

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FY26-FY27 Operating Assessment Comparison

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FY26-FY27 Total Assessments - Both Districts Comparison

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School Choice Information

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Who Chooses HRSD?

Who Leaves HRSD?

Source: HRSD enrollment spreadsheet

Links

• MTRSD - HRSD Business Services Web Page
• HRSD Business Services Monthly Reports
• HRSD FY27 PROPOSED BUDGET BOOK
• HRSD FY27 PDF COPY OF PROPOSED BUDGET BOOK
• HRSD FY27 PUBLIC HEARING BUDGET PRESENTATION - FEBRUARY 23, 2026
• Glossary of budget terms
• FY2027 Preliminary Chapter 70 Aid and Net School Spending:

Click on Complete Formula Spreadsheet to download the document with the information. Then open the

document and view the town, Charlemont or Hawley, for figures.

• Preliminary FY2027 MTRSD Cherry Sheet Estimates:

Choose the 2027 fiscal year and “Hawlemont” in the drop down box and click submit.

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Thank you to our staff for their

continued dedication to our students.

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Thank you to our community

for your continued support.