BELCHERTOWN — After a smooth budgeting process, the School Committee unanimously adopted a “concerning” budget last week, according to the committee chairwoman.

“It was a very smooth process. We worked very closely with the town Select Board and finance committee this year as a group so the budget process itself was wonderful,” Dawn French said. “The budget is definitely concerning to us. We have quite the shortfall … we obviously have to make cuts.”

The more than $30 million budget includes a nearly $480,000 deficit that required the School Committee to make some tough decisions including the cutting of teaching positions, textbooks and building maintenance.

“That is a big gap. That definitely does not make us happy,” French said. “We will have to do the best we can.”

The town is expected to appropriate $28,202,000 with grants and revolving funds covering $2,518,127 for a total budget of $30,720,127.

The $479,822 deficit lead to reductions in supplies, textbooks, building maintenance and professional developments. It also resulted in the elimination of three paraprofessional positions, a custodian and a teacher layoff.

French explained that two paraprofessional positions were already empty and won’t be filled. She added that a school custodian and three teachers will retire at the end of the school year, and that those positions also won’t be filled.

“One teacher will be officially let go,” French said. “It was specified at that time — if they had to be let go — it would be in social studies department.”

French said that there was a lot of conversation surrounding the number of students enrolled.

“That is watched very carefully when shifts are made,” she said. “It could be that we just don’t need an extra social studies teacher because of number of students and shifting staff around.”

This is the second year the town has not appropriated enough funds to cover a level service requested budget. In fiscal year 2017, the town appropriated $27,785,621 about $16,700 shy of the level service budget.

“Last year it was very close. The gap was much, much smaller so the cuts really could be handled by some creative shifting with the district,” French said. “This year, $480,000 is not a close gap. It’s definitely a frightening direction. I understand the town’s position as well — if the money is not there, the money is not there.”

Even with the deficit, the town’s appropriations have grown in the last five years from around $25 million in fiscal year 2013 to more than $28 million in fiscal year 2018.

“Nothing at this point is ideal — nothing at all — there is so much that we want in this district to move these kids forward,” French said. “To have to cut anything thing we already have is an awful thought. Nobody is happy with that but $500,000 is $500,000 and you have to find it somewhere.”

Despite the cuts, French said she is confident in the school’s ability.

“The staff in this district, the administrators in this district, the administration at central office, they are so strong and they are working so hard to do what is best for students and even though these cuts have to be made, we are a tremendous school system. We have absolutely phenomenal staff here and with a little bit of creativity, they are going to pull through like they always do.”

Superintendent Karol Coffin did not return repeated calls for comment Thursday or Friday. Finance Committee Chairman Edward Boscher did not immediately return a call for comment Friday.

The budget presentation given to the School Committee as well as the entire budget can be found on the district’s website on the School Committee page.

Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.