We need to  understand the financial impact of our school district (MTRSD) agreement and the way the state allocates funds in order to vote in the best interest of our town at ATM (Annual Town Meeting).
Disclaimer: This blog will reflect my views only, not the Heath Select Board, the School Committee members, the Finance Committee, nor Ken Rocke.  Ken, as a concerned resident of Heath and in no way in any official capacity, has put in an enormous amount of hours to understand what the new district agreement could mean financially to Heath.
​Dated 1/1/24 to keep it at the top of the blog.

Some of my understanding, please correct me in the comment section if I am wrong:

• Heath is paying for its students and will continue to do so. 
• Closing the Heath school saves the district 500k annually (possibly more now as costs go up).
• The new amendment to the MTRSD agreement may not benefit Heath which already pays 50% plus of its annual  budget for education.
• There is no compelling reason to rush to approve this budget prior to our spring ATM (Annual Town Meeting)  The current budgeting process will remain in effect.
• The district and our School Committee are well meaning in looking at alternative ways to budget. There is no implied criticism, but this complex issue needs time to be digested and a Special Town Meeting to approve does not allow enough time for Heath residents to understand the financial impact.

Click below to view the Heath presentation to the MTRSD
Impact of the Proposed MTRSD Amendment on Heath​

References for Calculating the Impact of Amendment on  Heath
​DESE Chapter 70 Workbook  (Excel file)
FY24 Chapter 70 workbooks
DESE RADAR  website (Resource Allocation and District Action Reports) 
Where do Heath students go to school (go to Page 2 and search on Heath)
Charter School tuition costs workbooks (DESE website)
MTRSD Documents for Town Meetings

Recorder Articles
10/13/23
Heath-Finance-Committee-opposes-Special-Town-Meeting-on-school-assessment-formula
10/20/23 
​Heath-Selectboard-opts-against-Special-Town-Meeting-on-school-assessment-formula