CHESHIRE — The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee on Monday endorsed a $23.99 million budget for the fiscal year beginning in July.

The budget represents an increase of 3.69 percent over the current fiscal year. Now, Superintendent Aaron Dean will approach the select boards and finance committees of both Adams and Cheshire. Town meeting voters will have the final say.

The approval came in the form of five separate unanimous votes:

Adam Emerson and Robert Tetlow, both Cheshire representatives, recused themselves and left the room for that intial line item vote because they have immediate family members who work for the district. They returned to cast their votes joining the rest of the School Committee for the other four other votes.

The budget reduces five full-time equivalent positions, resulting in a savings of $362,000.

It includes an increase of $734,067 going to educate 70 students who attend charter schools, 130 in school choice and 10 students in special education programs out of district. Next year, the number of students in out of district special education placement is expected to go to 12.

Other major increases go toward state mandated special education services within the district totaling $557,423, as well as health and life insurance, an increase of $330,000.

Dean said he tried to maintain student-facing services in creating this budget.

"It helps us address the challenges that we face with increasing student needs," Dean said. "It allows us to maintain programming that we've worked hard to build."