Shutesbury School Committee votes school choice for grades one, four, and six

SHUTESBURY -- April 16, 2026, Shutesbury School Committee voted unanimously to participate in school choice for grades one, four, and six for the coming school year. The committee also unanimously adopted six educational policies covering homeschooling, compensatory education, homebound instruction, and related programs, and heard that Shutesbury Elementary School has received a $25,000 state curriculum grant secured with help from state Representative Aaron Saunders through the supplemental $1.8 billion state funding bill. School Business Administrator Caitlin reported that cherry sheet school choice receiving aid has fallen from $112,150 this year to $80,292 under the House budget, though the change does not affect the already-approved FY27 budget headed to the May 9 annual town meeting. The committee also grappled with whether to spend roughly $33,000 upgrading an aging school oil tank or pursue a full replacement in the next one to two years, and heard that Finance Committee plans to propose a special education stabilization fund at the fall town meeting.