Athol-Royalston School Committee addresses transportation concerns

ATHOL – Transportation issues were raised at the Jan. 21 Athol-Royalston Regional School Committee meeting, as residents and parents spoke about after-school access affecting the Best Buddies Club and Royalston Community School families.

Two residents, Erica Talbot and Sarah Gokey, speaking on behalf of the Best Buddies Club at Athol Royalston Middle School, an inclusive student organization that pairs students with and without disabilities, said the group has struggled to move forward since being approved earlier this school year, due to delays in securing transportation for some students.

They said increased participation in the club led to additional transportation demands, which they worked to limit by coordinating with families and narrowing their request to two students. They said they informed the school of the situation and believed transportation would be arranged, but those services were not put in place, forcing meetings to be canceled.

“The same students who need para-support and specialized transportation to access this club have been granted this service with no questions asked within 24 hours when they attend other clubs,” Gokey said.

Later, during public comment, Shaun LeBlanc, a parent of an RCS student, said families at the school have no access to district-supported after-school programs.

“There’s no available resources, not one, to the students of RCS and families regarding after-school care,” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc said he has spoken with representatives of the Village School about the possibility of RCS students using its existing after-school program. He said buses already pass the location and that students could remain in the program until a parent or guardian picks them up, but emphasized that no arrangement has been confirmed.

“I want to be able to still have my son attend RCS, but this is a critical point for me and any other parent or guardian to have this service,” LeBlanc said.

Responding to the concerns, Superintendent Matthew Ehrenworth said providing transportation to private after-school programs raises equity concerns for the district.

“If we start offering transportation to private programs where we don’t even have a partnership with the organization, the concern is just that it’s not equitable to any of the other private child care facilities,” Ehrenworth said.

Ehrenworth said he had already discussed the Village School proposal with transportation officials, who estimated it would cost about $65 per day to add a bus stop at the location. He said the bus company indicated it might be able to charge the Village School directly for the stop, but that the matter would be a decision for the School Committee to further discuss.

Following public comment, the committee received an early overview of the district’s fiscal year 2027 budget from ARRSD Business Manager Nancy Konisky.

Konisky said the district is projecting a $42.1 million budget, an increase of approximately $4 million, or 10.6%, driven by rising special education costs, staffing needs, health insurance increases and facility maintenance. She also referenced the state’s projected 2.9% revenue growth.

Ehrenworth said the budget remains preliminary and reflects all identified priorities before reductions are considered.

“This is everything that we absolutely need,” he said.

A public hearing on the proposed budget is scheduled for March 18, with additional updates to be brought back to the School Committee as more information becomes available.