A meeting of the Belchertown Select Board, School Committee, and Finance Committee to discuss budgeting and further collaborative efforts between the three boards. Meeting recorded on February 9th, 2026 at Belchertown Town Hall. View meeting agenda here: https://www.belchertown.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02092026-1930

AI Meeting Overview:

- The special meeting of the Select Board on February 9th focused on discussing the budget for fiscal year 2027, emphasizing community priorities and financial management.

Key Discussion Points:

- Overview of Belchertown's current fiscal position and challenges for fiscal year 27.

- Discussion on the budget process, including revenue sources and allocation.

- Presentation of the town and school budgets, including fixed costs and necessary cuts.

- Free cash policy and its implications for the budget.

Decisions Made:

- Agreement to use a 50-50 split for free cash distribution between the operating budget and capital improvements.

- Acknowledgment of the need for budget cuts totaling $200,000 across town departments and $215,275 from the school budget.

A strategic leadership meeting of the Belchertown Select Board, School Committee and Finance Committee to discuss school regionalization and further collaborative efforts between the three boards. Meeting recorded on December 8, 2025 at Belchertown Town Hall. View meeting agenda here: https://www.belchertown.org/AgendaCen...AI Meeting Overview:The meeting focused on exploring the potential for regionalization of schools in the community, with input from consultants from the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools (MARS).Key Discussion Points:

• Introduction of MARS consultants, Jay Barry and Steve Hemen.
• Overview of regional school districts and their governance structure.
• Discussion on transportation reimbursement for regional districts.
• Examination of advantages and disadvantages of regionalization.
• Importance of community engagement and communication in the regionalization process.
• Consideration of educational programming and student outcomes in relation to regionalization.
• Financial implications and potential costs associated with regionalization.

• No formal decision was made regarding moving forward with regionalization; the focus remains on gathering information and exploring options.

• The meeting highlighted the need for transparency and open communication among stakeholders.
• Concerns were raised about the financial implications of regionalization and the importance of ensuring that student needs are prioritized.
• The possibility of forming regional agreements for specific programs was discussed as an alternative to full regionalization.
• Future meetings will focus on strategic planning and the potential formation of a formal committee to explore regionalization further.#Belchertown #belchertownma #regionalization #townmeetingtv

Audio from the regular Belchertown Select Board meeting that took place on December 1, 2025 at Town Hall.