Gill-Montague School Committee Rescinds Nut-Free Policy, Approves New Allergy Framework

GILL — December 6, 2022 — Gill-Montague School Committee rescinds nut-free policy and opens new elementary school site debate. The committee voted unanimously at its December 6 meeting to rescind policy JLCAA, the district's existing peanut and tree nut free pledge, replacing it with a revised life-threatening allergy policy and procedure set after Superintendent Brian Beigie and district nurses concluded that maintaining a nut-free designation is "false advertising" that could give allergic students a false sense of security. The board also heard a budget warning from Business and Finance Director Joanne Trottier, who said a projected $700,000 increase in Chapter 70 state aid for fiscal year 2024 may shrink to $200,000 or less due to declining foundation enrollment, prompting the committee to tentatively raise its excess-and-deficiency draw to $400,000 and its school choice revolving fund draw to $900,000. In a surprise agenda item, Trottier presented a concept for a standalone 3K-through-5 elementary school on district land adjacent to the Turners Falls High School campus, raising unresolved questions about municipal ownership and cost allocation that committee member Bill Middleton called "complex"; the item returns December 20 as the committee races a mid-January Statement of Interest deadline with the Massachusetts School Building Authority.