BOSTON, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey on Friday will address the annual Connect 351 conference hosted by the Massachusetts Municipal Association in Boston. When she does, leaders from rural towns and schools from across the Commonwealth will deliver an urgent message about state support of rural school districts.

Those officials plan to convey their feeling that without additional state support, rural school districts face a fiscal crisis that threatens their viability in the future.

“Deerfield and most other rural towns and rural school districts across the Commonwealth are facing unprecedented fiscal year 2027 (FY27) budget challenges,” Deerfield Selectboard member Tim Hilchey said. “Much of that is due to an outdated school funding system and spiraling health care costs. School expenses account for almost 70% of Deerfield’s entire municipal budget. Barring significant new support at the state level, the wheels are going to come off the bus, and we’re going to face major cuts in services across the board.”

According to State Senator Jo Comerford, many rural districts have received no meaningful increase in Chapter 70 state education aid for more than 15 years.

“It’s not an overstatement to say an existential threat exists to the financial viability of rural schools and towns,” said Sheryl Stanton, Superintendent of the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional Districts. “For more than 15 years, we’ve been trying to achieve sustainability on our own. We’ve consolidated and closed schools; shared services; bid jointly with other districts on key contracts. But the savings simply do not keep pace with our rising fixed costs. The lack of equitable funding continues to leave rural students at a disadvantage, and at the end of the day, this is about doing what is right for all students.”