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.