May 7, 2021 Residents Share Concerns About School Budget by Paula Ouimette Tri-Board Meeting Levy Limit Is $165,000 and the Partments
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The ONLY local coverage in Sturbridge – Brookfield – West Brookfield – East Brookfield – North Brookfield & New Braintree Connect with us online CURRENT Quaboag Current Newspaper NORTH BROOKFIELD WEST BROOKFIELD SPORTS Editorial/Opinion 4 Police Logs 11 Fishing is ‘off the hook’ Quaboag students Pioneers ready to go Sports 7 Legal Notices 11 p2 running clothing drive p5 p7 Classifieds 10 Volume 14, Number 25 Friday, May 7, 2021 Residents share concerns about school budget By Paula Ouimette Tri-board meeting levy limit is $165,000 and the partments. state and North Brookfield has Staff Writer Kiley said he watched the school requested an increase of Tucker said when the school about a $500,000 shortfall. School Committee meeting $367,000. thrives, the town thrives. Kiley Superintendent salary NORTH BROOKFIELD from the previous night and “Money out can’t exceed said he disagreed with her, say- A resident questioned why – At the April 27 Board of Se- commented on Tucker’s request money in,” Kiley said. “The ing that successful businesses, Lind is receiving a $20,000 lectmen meeting, School Com- to hold a tri-board meeting of school budget isn’t under our residents and others make the pay increase (approved at the mittee Chair Maria Tucker the School Committee, select- control, that’s the whole prob- town thrive. Kiley said all the School Committee meeting) spoke during the public com- men and Finance Committee. lem,” Kiley said. He said they selectmen and Finance Com- before the budget has been set. ment time, on behalf of the Kiley said they have held tri- have other departments they mittee meetings are posted and Kiley said, “You can’t say that committee, regarding the cut to board meetings in the past, and are required to fund in addi- open to the public, and the ‘we are transparent,’ and then their proposed budget. She said they are an “absolute waste of tion to the school. Tucker said School Committee is welcome not act transparently.” He said the schools received a 16 per- time.” Kiley said the School they create their budget based to attend and discuss issues. the teachers get a 2% cost of cent, or over $1 million, cut to Committee sets the budget on the needs of the school and Tim Canada, a member living raise and a 2% step in- their budget. Tucker said North and the town has “no input” stressed the need for open com- of the School Committee, ex- crease every year, while town Brookfield School Superinten- in that budget. Kiley said giv- munication with the selectmen pressed concern about the bud- employees were not able to. The dent Richard Lind, and their ing the school the increase they and Finance Committee. Tuck- get being cut 16% rather than resident asked why Lind was school staff have been “very requested in their proposed er said the school also has man- reducing their 5% increase. earning almost $200,000 a year dedicated” to their students budget, exceeded their 2 ½ dates they need to cover with Kiley said there is a decrease during a challenging year. percent levy limit. He said the their budget, just like other de- in Chapter 70 money from the See BUDGET I PAGE 3 Board hears update on Town Wide Cleanup fills dumpster North Main Street upgrades By Paula Ouimette walk gaps, on-street parking WEST BROOKFIELD – The Staff Writer and drives. He said utility poles West Brookfield Common Committee are obstructing views of cross- organized Town Wide Cleanup Day NORTH BROOKFIELD – walks. Paille said some of the on Saturday May 1. In coordination At the Tuesday, April 27 Board driveways are very steep and with the Lake Cleanup Day organized of Selectmen meeting, Sheila need their grade reduced to be by the Lake Wickaboag Preservation Orsi, of the Downtown De- safer. Association, the Common Commit- velopment Committee, intro- Paille said the retaining wall tee filled a 15-yard dumpster serviced duced Bill Paille and Jef Fasser, in front of the church, utility by Hook and Haul. of BSC Group, to give an up- poles (including double poles), There were multiple families, stu- date about North Main Street and narrow spaces, and steep dents from Quaboag Regional High upgrades. Paille said they are grades all pose a challenge. The School, and friends who grabbed working on this project to im- sidewalk grade on Summer their gloves and bags, all offered by prove the existing conditions Street makes accessing the low- the Common Committee, and togeth- of the sidewalks, making them er level of the Town House dif- er filled nearly 100 bags and lakeside ADA compliant and safer for ficult. Several fire hydrants also trash items for disposal. pedestrians. prevent parking along the road. The Committee also provid- ADA compliance, safety Project overview ed helpers with a coupon gifted by concerns Different options to address the Ye Olde Tavern and “bug-free” Paille said there is some these issues include three proj- wristbands from Country Bank. The ADA compliance, such as ac- ects: Maple Street to South Committee is happy to see street ways cess to the Town Hall, but it is Main Street on the east side (re- clean and help to keep our communi- inconsistent along the street. ty beautiful. Other concerns include side- I See UPGRADES PAGE 3 Thank you to all the supporters and volunteers! Quaboag Regional discusses further regionalization By Eileen Kennedy Chairman Andrew Schwenk- Staff writer er also announced during the meeting that the North Brook- WARREN – The Quaboag field School Regionalization Regional School Committee Committee had chosen that met the last week of April with evening to explore regionaliza- Warren, West Brookfield and tion with Quaboag. North Brookfield officials and Schwenker said Quaboag’s several parents to discuss the work must finish by June 30, district’s grant to explore re- and much of it is being done by gionalization. State Rep. Don- MARS consulting group. nie Berthiaume, R-Spencer, While potential costs sav- also attended. ings will be explored, first it has Originally the grant was to make sense from a student to study regionalization standpoint, he said. The school with North Brookfield and district, along with North East Brookfield/Spencer, but Brookfield School District, will Above: Bill Blanchard picks up trash last Saturday on Wickaboag Valley Quaboag is now concentrating be taking most of the next year Road in West Brookfield. Inset: Mary Beth Czaja of the Lake Wickaboag on North Brookfield. to explore regionalizing, and Preservation Association picks up trash last Saturday. See more photos on page 6. TURLEY PUBLICATIONS STAFF PHOTOS Quaboag School Committee See REGIONAL I PAGE 3 PAGE 2 The Quaboag Current • www.quaboagcurrent.turley.com I Friday, May 7, 2021 Fishing derby ‘off the hook’ Grace Flamand, 11, at right, and Matthew Flamand, 7, left, took part in the kids fishing derby at the North Brookfield Sportsman’s Club. NORTH BROOKFIELD – The North Brook- field Sportsman’s Club in conjunction with the North Brookfield Police Department, sponsoring a free kids Talyn Bussolari, 10, holds a fish she caught Noah Gillette, 9, of North Brookfield, is patient at the kids fishing derby Saturday at the at the kids fishing derby Saturday at the North fishing derby this past Saturday at North Brookfield Abigail Davis, 5 1/2, and Spencer Davis, 11, North Brookfield Sportsman’s Club. Brookfield Sportsman’s Club. Town Forest Park. Dozens of children, along with their caught fish at the kids fishing derby. families were successful in catching many prize-worthy trout. The North Brookfield Police Department pro- vided free snacks and beverages for all that attended. Left to right are North Brookfield Police Sgt. Chris Donais, Patrolman Kyle Cassavant, Patrolman Jeff Maddie and Macy, twins who are 6, and Emma Donais, all of North Brookfield fished during the kids fishing Martin, Sgt. Dave Churchey and Patrolman Erik Bishop, who helped sponsor the kids fishing derby. derby. TURLEY PUBLICATIONS STAFF PHOTOS BY PAULA OUIMETTE FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER OR REFINANCING? TOWARDS CLOSING COSTS.* For 171 years, our neighborly values have turned the mortgage process into a great experience for MEET JOMARIA. our customers. Putting a little extra cash in their pockets hasn’t hurt either. Now it’s your turn. She prides herself on helping her Receive $500 or $1,500 credit towards closing costs community get to where they want when you open or have an existing Country Bank to be. 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