Region One considers schedule changes to make up for snow days

FALLS VILLAGE — The Region One Board of Education will consider a schedule adjustment at a special online meeting Tuesday, March 17, at 8:30 a.m.

Region One has used six snow days this winter. To avoid extending the school year to Monday, June 22, Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley has proposed several calendar adjustments to ensure the district meets the state requirement of 180 school days.

Shanley-Brady said on Monday, March 9 that the district doesn’t include snow days in its calendar. When a closing occurs, the district adds a day to the school year.

She said extending the school year into the last week of June would be cumbersome for families who have planned for vacations or summer camp.

Under the proposal, Friday, May 22 — originally scheduled as a day off for students and a full day of professional development for teachers — would become a half day for students, with the professional development held in the afternoon.

Friday, June 5, currently scheduled as a full day for students, would instead become a half day, with teachers completing the remaining professional development hours originally planned for May 22.

Thursday, June 18 would be a half day for students and a full day for staff. Friday, June 19 would remain the final day of school and the date of Housatonic Valley Regional High School’s graduation.

At the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday, March 2, membersreceived an update on the district’s proposed 2026–27 budget.

Business Manager Sam Herrick said the budget committee has reduced the initial proposed spending increase from 9.01% to 5.92%, representing roughly $570,000 in cuts.

The reductions include eliminating the Scientific Research Based Interventions coordinator stipend, reducing one full-time shared school psychologist position, consolidating a high school main office position following a retirement, and reductions in spending for athletics and facilities.

Additional adjustments were made to tuition and transportation lines, while some technology purchases will be funded using unexpended funds from prior budgets. Some maintenance projects have also been deferred.

Herrick said rising health insurance costs — projected to increase by 13.5% — along with special education expenses remain the primary drivers of the budget increase.