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SPENCER/EAST BROOKFIELD – During its most recent meeting, the Spencer East Brookfield Regional School Committee heard about current staffing needs as well as the current and upcoming budgets.
Because of staff health issues, the district is currently in need of substitute teachers, paraprofessionals and especially substitute nurses, Superintendent Paul Haughey said.
“Without (nurses), no field trips can take place,” he said.
The superintendent earlier had thanked emergency responders on their handling of several incidents in the district including medical emergencies and injuries that contributed to the shortfall.
FY26, FY27 budgets discussed
In his report, Business Manager Gary Suter thanked the town of Spencer and Capital Improvement Planning Committee (CIPC) for recommending the funding for the Siemen’s lease payment be handled through the capital process.
The decision came as a welcome surprise, according to Suter.
The school department has a Proposition 2 ½ override request on the May 12 election ballot. Town Meeting will vote on it on May 7. The amount sought for the district’s operating budget is $264,455.
Suter said the FY27 budget reflects $1 million in cuts that have been made. “The number we are looking for is not an all-inclusive number …just to keep our heads above water,” Suter said.
Haughey said the district’s priorities are “working to maintain student achievement and keep fiscal responsibility at the forefront.”
He said that he welcomes feedback and input on the proposed budget, which can be found on the front page of the district’s website.
Meeting with people serving on many boards in neighboring towns, Haughey said, “No one is happy with the state of the union at the moment…We need everyone pulling in the same direction.”
Suter noted a combination of transfers and Excess & Deficiency funds could be used to solve a shortfall in the current (FY26) operating budget, which ends June 30, 2026.
Suter said tuitions for some charter school and school choice came in lower than expected, so the leftover money would be used to fill in the gap. Also, Suter said, the district would dip into circuit breaker funds and use E & D funds to pay for electricity and property insurance related to David Prouty High School.
The committee approved $297,102 in transfers and $300,638 of E & D funds to take care of current deficits in the FY26 budget.
Suter said other areas where E & D money would be used included retiree health insurance; grounds and maintenance from the fall; heat, ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) in all buildings; and the first year of an energy management software platform upgrade to make David Prouty High School compatible with the other schools.
“We should have done that sooner,” Suter said of the final item. The first-year cost for the upgrade is $36,000, while it will be $24,000 in year two and $20,000 in year three.
The meeting also was the last one for members Christopher Woodbury and Pat Lacaire.
Member Heather Messier thanked Woodbury for his expertise at the town level and Lacaire, her counterpart from East Brookfield, for his service as well.
Woodbury praised the teachers and support staff for everything they do for the children of the communities. Lacaire said that he is impressed by the dedication shown across the district and all the work going on behind the scenes. “I’ve learned a lot,” Lacaire added.
It was also the last meeting for Selectman Ralph Hicks, who is not seeking re-election and is liaison to the School Committee.
He urged committee members to get involved in the Proposition 2 ½ override effort by writing letters and emphasizing the cuts that have been made to the FY27 budget so far.
“You are bleeding. The kids should not have to see you bleeding anymore because it affects them in terms of the quality of education they will get,” Hicks said.
School Committee chair Jeff Sauvageau expressed appreciation to Hicks, “for teaching us things.”
