Gill-Montague School Committee Approves $23 Million Budget, Goes Mask-Optional March 21

GILL -- March 8, 2022, Gill-Montague Regional School Committee unanimously approved a $22,985,805 FY2023 budget and set March 21 as the district's mask-optional start date. The budget, which passed 7-0 and required a two-thirds supermajority, draws on $250,000 from the district's excess and deficiency fund; a companion vote established a $200,000 regional transportation reimbursement fund for the second consecutive year. Pandemic response coordinator Melissa Bednarski told the committee that Franklin County had reached the CDC's lowest transmission risk category for the first time in months and that roughly 75 percent of county residents age five and older are vaccinated, while committee member Nick argued that only about 51 percent of elementary-age children have received even one dose and called the timeline "too early." The committee unanimously appointed Gary Turne to fill a vacant Montague seat through the May election and tabled a proposed 20-year solar energy discount contract, offering a 10 percent reduction on electricity costs through provider Solstice, pending a presentation by energy advisor Ken McCants at the March 22 meeting.