From extracurriculars to classroom materials, every dollar in Mount Greylock’s budget helps shape everyday student life. As the school year progresses, many are wondering where those funds go and what changes students can expect.
What happened to extra state funding during the COVID-19 pandemic? According to Superintendent Joe Bergeron, Mount Greylock was given “right around $900,000.”
During the pandemic, the Mount Greylock Regional School District received federal and state funding through the ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) and ARPA (American Rescue Plan) programs. These programs, designed to support schools during the pandemic, were part of a nationwide effort by the U.S. Department of Education to help schools stay open safely and support student learning.
Mount Greylock used its COVID-19 relief money for a variety of purposes. Some of the funds went toward essential health and safety measures such as masks, COVID-19 testing supplies, and other cleaning products. One visible result of this spending is the Nordic Ski Shed. While it was originally built as a temporary solution for extra cafeteria seating, it has since been repurposed into a permanent structure and now is used to store gear for MG’s Nordic ski teams.
Even with no COVID relief funding remaining, the school’s budget has remained relatively unaffected. During the pandemic, Mount Greylock increased its focus on social and emotional wellness. The school hired additional social workers, provided more resources, and created more opportunities for students to access mental health support.
“We’ve been able to continue with the larger number of social workers across the district,” Bergeron said.
This continuity has been possible thanks to the strong financial backing from Lanesborough and Williamstown. Both communities approved significant increases in their contributions to the school district’s budget this year.
“We were really fortunate to receive a really big vote of support from both of our towns, Lanesborough and Williamstown, for this budget year where we saw six to seven percent increases in terms of funding from each of them,” explained Bergeron. This influx of funds has allowed for additional positions within the school, particularly in the language and wellness departments.
With a higher budget, students can expect to see more teachers and academic course offerings. During the Echo’s interview, Bergeron explained what an “FTE” is: an FTE is a “Full time equivalent [teacher]…they only teach four days a week, or they only teach from morning until lunch.”
But with the higher budget, Bergeron stated that “[they] also shored up areas where [they] previously had partial FTEs, and [they] brought them so they can be full full time equivalent. So like [they’ve] been able to add teaching positions here this year.”
Hiring these FTEs allows for more scheduling flexibility, smaller class sizes, and greater opportunities for academic growth across different departments.
The budget expansion has also supported extracurricular programs and clubs, which play a vital role in student engagement. Even with the end of COVID funding, there have been no major cuts to activities, sports, or academics. With continued community support and careful financial planning from the administration, Mount Greylock is positioned to thrive even without COVID government money.
