HAWLEMONT REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
HAWLEMONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1
A guide to the 2025-2026 operating budget for the Hawlemont Regional School District
A message from
Superintendent Sheryl Stanton
We are pleased to present to our community the FY26 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.
To this end, our budget continues to support development of innovative curricular pathways and hands on learning opportunities.
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.
2
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.
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, click on the FY2026 HRSD Budget Information tab or click here for direct access to the FY2026 budget spreadsheets.
You will find the complete line-by-line budget, other related materials of interest, and the slide presentation from the school committee public hearing.
It is our hope that, in being transparent, we have earned your confidence resulting in your vote to pass the budget for FY2026.
3
Our FY26 Budget Goals
4
In the FY26 budget, we aim to continue providing outstanding educational opportunities while managing increased fixed costs and unanticipated expenses from the current FY25 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.
Sustainability Work
Expense Drivers
5
Program Development
Provide all students with rigorous and
culturally relevant curriculum, resources
and programs that support individual goals
Inflation
Expenses that the district incurs continue to rise annually even though inflation has been relatively low in recent years. The trend still is that the increases in expenses outpace increases in revenue.
Technology and Information
The rapid increase in technology and information has accelerated the need to more frequently replace educational materials and equipment.
Facilities and Maintenance
The rising costs for heating, electricity and supplies has led to substantial increases.
Special Education
Increases in special education out-of-district tuition combined with limited availability of local options (program closures) resulting in out-of-district placements. Also, see Transportation.
Transportation
Contractual increases for regular and special education transportation (single-source providers)
Salary and Benefits
Contractual obligations related to salaries and benefits
6
Budget Overview, All Funds: $ 3,162,277
All Funds Budget = $3,162,277
represents the anticipated expenses for the 2025-2026 school year
Offsets = $694,818
grants and revolving funds
Non-Assessment Revenues = $801,003
includes Chapter 70 funding, charter school reimbursement, transportation revenue, and interest income
Operating Assessment = $1,666,456
The amount needed from the district towns to run our district based on this budget
$3,162,277
$2,467,459
$1,666,456
Operating Assessment
Offsets
All Revenue
FY2026 Overview
7
Total Operating Budget (Operating & Revolving) |
| $2,930,537 |
Budgeted To Revolving Funds Revenues/Plus Other Revenue (Offsets) |
| $694,818 |
Local Fund Budget |
| $2,235,719 |
Local Funds Net Change From Prior Year |
| $45,332 |
Percentage Change From Prior Year |
| 1.57% |
Add 2 District Expenses | | $231,740 |
FY26 Total Proposed Budget With 2 District | | $2,467,459 |
Change From Last Year 3.75% | | $89,118 |
8
Operating Assessment
All Funds Budget
All expenditures, including offsets from grants and
revolving funds.
All Funds Budget totals
$ 3,162,277,
an increase of
$52,665 (1.69%)
over FY25.
Local Budget
All Funds Budget LESS $694,818 in offsets
from grants and revolving funds
Local Budget is $2,467,459
an increase of
$89,118 (3.75%)
over FY25.
Total Operating Assessment
Local Budget LESS
all non-assessment revenues* totaling
$801,003
Total Operating
Assessment
is $1,666,456,
an increase of
$85,585 (5.41%)
over FY25.
* Chapter 70 funding, charter school reimbursement, transportation revenue, tuition, and interest income
Impacts on the FY26 Budget
9
Reductions Made To The Initial Expenses
for FY26
10
Administration | $1,935 |
Instruction (e.g. teacher salaries, stipends, supplies) | $101,787 |
Student Services (e.g. school nurse salaries, athletics, transportation) | $6,900 |
Maintenance and Operations (e.g. telecommunications, building and grounds) | $8,300 |
Benefits and HR | $16,388 |
Charter Tuition | $35,616 |
TOTAL ADJUSTMENTS | $170,926 |
FY26 Increases By Cost Center
Cost Center | FY25 All Funds | FY26 All Funds | Difference | Percent |
Salary And Benefits | $2,008,858 | $2,060,108 | $51,250 | 3% |
Maintenance And Operations | $200,115 | $208,549 | $8,435 | 4% |
Transportation | $121,550 | $115,050 | -$6,500 | -5% |
School Choice/Charter | $257,783 | $304,921 | $47,138 | 18% |
Other-Instruction/ Supplies | $296,899 | $241,909 | -$54,990 | -19% |
Total District | $2,885,205 | $2,930,537 | $45,332 | 2% |
FY25-FY26 Assessment Comparison
12
Town | FY25 Assess % | FY26 Assess % |
Charlemont | 84.71% | 86.60% |
Hawley | 15.29% | 13.40% |
Total | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Where Does Our Funding Come From?
13
FUNDING SOURCE | FY26 |
Assessments To Towns | $1,666,456 |
State Funding | $730,003 |
Interest Income | $15,000 |
Offsets - Revolving And Grants | $694,818 |
Use Of E&D Reserve Funding | $50,000 |
Medicaid Reimbursement | $6,000 |
TOTAL | $3,162,277 |
| |
FY25-FY26 Funding Sources
14
Funding Source | FY25 | FY26 |
Chapter 70 State Aid Revenue | $651,226.00 | $663,595.00 |
Transportation Revenue Chapter 71 | $66,408.00 | $66,408.00 |
Charter Revenue | $33,328.00 | $0.00 |
Minimum Contribution | $694,955.00 | $763,034.00 |
Above Minimum Contribution | $799,282.00 | $809,780.00 |
Transportation Assessment to Towns | $86,634 | $93,642.00 |
Interest Income | $8,000.00 | $15,000.00 |
Offsets - Revolving And Grants | $731,271.00 | $694,818.00 |
Use Of E&D Reserve Funding | $25,000.00 | $50,000.00 |
Medicaid Reimbursement | $0.00 | $6,000.00 |
Transportation Revolving Funds | $13,508.00 | $0.00 |
TOTAL | $3,109,612.00 | $3,162,277.00 |
State Aid
Assessment to Towns
Other Revenue
FY26 Funding by DESE Code
15
FUNDS BY DESE USE | FY25 | FY26 | FY25-FY26 DIFFERENCE |
ADMINISTRATION (1000) | $26,730.00 | $26,195.00 | -$535.00 |
INSTRUCTIONAL (2000) | $1,503,813.07 | $1,528,691.79 | $24,879 |
TRANSPORTATION (3300) | $160,000 | $166,050 | $6,050 |
FOOD SERVICES (3400) | $56,315 | $58,227 | $1,912 |
OPERATIONS (4000) | $201,114.80 | $211,549.35 | $10,435 |
BENEFITS (5000) | $531,784.26 | $553,419.06 | $21,635 |
EQUIP/LEASES (5300) | $5,000.00 | $5,000.00 | $ - |
TUITIONS OUT (9000) | $10,000 | $10,000 | $ - |
SCHOOL CHOICE ASSESSMENTS (9110) | $278,689.00 | $294,921.00 | $16,232.00 |
CHARTER ASSESSMENTS (9120) | $35,000 | $0 | -$35,000.00 |
ATTENDANCE/HEALTH (3100/3200) | $76,639.00 | $76,364.00 | $2,801 |
OTHER (6000,7000,8000) | $120 | $120.00 | -$12,653 |
OPEB | $0 | $0 | $0 |
TOTALS | $2,885,205 | $2,930,537 | $45,332 |
FY26 Funding by Department
16
FY25-FY26 Minimum Required Contribution Comparison
17
FY25-FY26 Operating Assessment Comparison
Town | FY25 Required Local Contribution | FY26 Required Local Contribution | FY25-FY26 DIFFERENCE | PERCENT CHANGE |
Charlemont | $574,412 | $628,013 | $53,601 | 9.33% |
Hawley | $120,543 | $135,021 | $14,478 | 12.01% |
Total | $694,955 | $763,034 | $68,079 | 9.80% |
Town | FY25 Operating Assessment | FY26 Operating Assessment | FY25-FY26 Difference | Percent Change |
Charlemont | $1,324,871 | $1,410,376 | $85,505 | 6.45% |
Hawley | $256,000 | $256,079 | $79 | 0.03% |
Total | $1,580,871 | $1,666,455 | $85,584 | 5.41% |
Total Operating Assessment
18
| | FY25 | FY26 (FY26 Assessment Summary tab) |
Total Operating Expenses- Operating Budget Includes 2 District Expenses - Offsets |
| $ 3,109,612 | $ 2,930,537 |
Net School Spending Minus Revenue |
| $ 2,211,791 | $ 2,307,409 |
Minimum Contribution (Towns' Total) |
| $ 694,955 | $ 763,034 |
Above Minimum Contribution |
| $ 799,282 | $ 809,780 |
|
| | |
Transportation Budget |
| $ 166,550 | $ 160,050 |
Chapter 71 Transportation Revenue |
| $ 66,408 | $ 66,408 |
Transportation Revolving | | $13,508 | 0 |
Total Transportation Assessment |
| $ 86,634 | $ 93,642 |
|
| | |
Total Operating Assessment |
| $ 1,580,871 | $ 1,666,456 |
Net Change From Prior Year |
| $ -35,708 | $ 85,585 |
Operating Assessment -- % Change Prior Year |
| -2.21% | 5.41% |
School Choice Information
19
Who Chooses HRSD?
Who Leaves HRSD?
FY | Students | Tuition |
2024 | 14 | $ 120,965 |
2025 | 18 | $ 144,585 |
FY | Students | Tuition |
2024 | 37 | $ 247,783 |
2025 | 39 | $ 340,057 |
Choice Out To | # Students |
Chesterfield-Goshen | 2 |
Mohawk Trail | 29 |
Rowe | 8 |
Grand Total | 39 |
Choice In From | # Students |
Greenfield | 3 |
Mohawk Trail | 13 |
Pittsfield | 2 |
Grand Total | 18 |
Links
Click on Regional Summary Sheet- Then choose Hawlemont in the drop down box
Choose the 2026 fiscal year and “Hawlemont” in the drop down box and click submit
20
21
Thank you to our staff for their
continued dedication to our students.
Thank you to our community
for your continued support.