Blandford Select Board hears Gateway superintendent update, flags highway winter budget shortfall

BLANDFORD -- September 30, 2024, Blandford Select Board receives Gateway Regional School District update and hears highway budget warning. Superintendent Christina Carberry told the board Monday that the district lost continued funding from a five-year, $210,000 after-school grant after failing to meet participation requirements she called inequitable for small rural communities, noting the grant covered student transportation, programming, and child care. Carberry also reported that a $250,000 pre-K expansion grant extended the full-day program to five days per week and that 45 German students will visit through the band program in October. Highway Superintendent Rainey warned that the department's winter account is nearly depleted before the season starts, in part due to a sander ordered under prior pricing that was billed this year, and said he would provide the board with a specific dollar figure for the shortfall within the week. No major appropriations or policy votes were taken at the meeting.