Southern Berkshire School Committee Approves Treasurer Contract Before Five-Town Budget Vote

LENOX -- June 22, 2026, Southern Berkshire School Committee approves treasurer contract and hears 112 budget warning ahead of five-town votes. The committee voted 7-1-1 at its June 22 meeting to approve a contract with district treasurer Kami Lamica, who is transitioning from employee to independent contractor through her new firm Education Finance Services LLC at an annual fee of $17,680, subject to review by school committee counsel Josh Coleman. Superintendent Brian Riccio disclosed that he had spoken with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that afternoon and learned that a Section 112 fallback budget, which would take effect if any of the five member towns reject the FY27 budget at special town meetings beginning June 25, would be calculated on general fund revenues only, excluding one-time sources such as Excess and Deficiency, School Choice receipts, and Circuit Breaker reimbursements that were used to construct the current budget, potentially eliminating the eight positions the district has internally posted for reinstatement. The committee also voted 6-2-1 to roll forward nine and a half of Riccio's unused vacation days rather than issue a $6,832.69 payout. Member Bonnie Silver announced her resignation effective July 1 after approximately 13 and a half years of service.