Quabbin School Committee Backs Muir for Superintendent, Adopts $34M Budget Draft

BARRE -- March 8, 2018, Quabbin Regional School Committee votes to pursue Sheila Muir as next superintendent and advances a $34.17 million FY19 budget. The committee voted Thursday to authorize contract negotiations with Muir, the district's current assistant superintendent, though three members abstained, at least one citing concern that the committee did not compare her against outside candidates. Outgoing Superintendent Maureen Marshall called Muir "passionate" and a "consensus builder," and noted the average superintendent tenure is just four years, praising the committee's stability. The preliminary FY19 budget of $34,173,990 represents an $834,000 reduction from the first draft and carries assessment increases ranging from 1.31 percent for New Braintree to 6.44 percent for Hubbardston; a public hearing is set for March 15. The committee also unanimously approved a three-year vanpool special education transportation contract at a 5 percent first-year increase, and raised school meal prices 25 cents across the board, with elementary lunch moving from $2.75 to $3.00. A $17,000 grant from the Barre Savings Charitable Foundation is funding ALICE active-shooter training for district administrators and area police, with the district now hosting 56 participants from multiple states as a certified training site.