Gill-Montague School Committee Backs CES Capital Reserve Fund, Approves New Student Club

GILL -- November 8, 2022, Gill-Montague School Committee backs a $5 million capital reserve account for the Collaborative for Educational Services. The committee voted 6-1 Tuesday to support the CES capital reserve, which was established using funds from a forgiven Paycheck Protection Program loan and is intended to address building needs at the collaborative's two owned properties, including a roof replacement projected within five years at 97 Holly Street. CES Executive Director Todd Gazda told the committee the fund would allow the collaborative to avoid raising its roughly $350-per-student member fees or HECK Academy tuition to cover capital costs, estimating the direct membership value to Gill-Montague at approximately $124,000 in fiscal year 2022. The committee also set Irving tuition rates at $15,000 for regular enrollment and $37,343 for special education, approved a new student running and walking club and its activity account, and began a first reading of a revised allergy policy that would shift the district from a nut-free to a nut-safe designation.