Gill-Montague School Committee Approves Donations, Opens Student Aid Account

GILL -- February 9, 2021, Gill-Montague School Committee approves student aid account and hears of a $66,000 fiscal year 2022 budget gap. At the February 9 virtual meeting, administrators reported that a pandemic-driven enrollment drop of roughly 100 students reduced the district's foundation budget by $900,000 and pushed it back into a Chapter 70 hold-harmless position, yielding only a $29,000 state aid increase. The town of Gill's operating assessment fell by $75,000 from the prior year, compounding the revenue shortfall. The committee unanimously accepted a $2,000 donation from the Montague Elks and roughly $453 from the Brown family, then voted to establish a student activities account for the Athletic Leadership Council's Helping Hands program, which delivered Christmas baskets to 21 families in December. A final budget is due to town finance committees on March 3, with town votes expected in May.