Southern Berkshire School Committee Delays FY27 Budget Vote One Week

LENOX — March 17, 2026 — Southern Berkshire School Committee postpones FY27 budget adoption after members cite missing financial data. The committee voted 6-3 at its March 17 meeting to delay adoption of the district's fiscal year 2027 operating, transportation, and capital budgets to a special meeting on March 26, with the Finance Subcommittee directed to convene the evening before on March 25 to bring a forward recommendation. Two budget options before the committee both carried assessment increases members described as approximately 18 percent, far above the district's historical range of 2 to 3 percent annually. Member Bonnie, who made the postponement motion, said she felt "completely irresponsible" voting without verified salary step data for Unit A teachers and Unit D paraeducators and without visible offsets for circuit breaker, school choice, and grant revenue. Open Architects representative TJ confirmed his team was still working to incorporate those funding sources and said he planned to work with the district's former superintendent — who has been on a consulting contract — to fill gaps before next week. A separate motion by member Art to convene a broader working session with all financial parties failed 5-4. Public commenters challenged the value of the former superintendent's consulting arrangement, with one staff member noting the total paid approximated the annual salary of a district paraeducator.