[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6265712,"mediaKeyId","3089017-950a9e080628df0098d412a61e28d451","parentId",3089017,"title","Methuen community urges school committee to preserve fine-arts staff as FY26 cuts loom","audioSeconds",3135,"startMs",618000,"endMs",3753000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089017-950a9e080628df0098d412a61e28d451&start=618&end=3753","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089017-950a9e080628df0098d412a61e28d451/thumbnail_618000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6265712/Massachusetts/Methuen-community-urges-school-committee-to-preserve-fine-arts-staff-as-FY26-cuts-loom","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265712-839ec291f573a58d98b6cbd5b293f5a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870043&Signature=lbJTgXyNrytq9PahynAHwzMTAVNWt0ZPC7JwXJpcshUBZa5~0l8T0yWHRt~zTl1UkzhOv24XeM4EcnAmvsI9ytF4~SaLrw3jz~Iq1R1yjcM0aLEWDMXGLyYfnSGu3KywxJrKumFM1~V~6Pq5CW6keDEXBAqdg~67hNW8mSkL0MWRrVRrfx7h7~p9BTlYfgMD4087-JdftPz2nOUlktX43lP5bDT1hOplUgnWZJRQUm-eu-hyFVttssm5eiFCCmiLzPNGnDtvWrXJvwsYJoHIDxZy1rFC8IkLxH1SqmkINl-JImT8SeLgTlvMIIXjx1WUG7ppArmnwwevc5LS62uXOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Methuen Public Schools, MA","date","2025-04-23T04:58:59.927Z","article","Methuen School Committee members heard more than three hours of public testimony April 16 from parents, students and teachers urging the committee to preserve the district's fine-arts staff and programming as the district develops its preliminary FY26 budget.

Those who spoke said proposed cuts that would eliminate the fine-arts director position and reduce day-time theater classes at Methuen High School threaten school-climate benefits, extracurricular productions and student mental-health supports.

Supporters said the programs provide academic and social benefits and argued the cuts would disproportionately hurt students already at risk of disengagement.

Parents, current and former students, and teachers described the fine-arts director's role as central to coordinating music, art and theater across the district and to arranging performances and community partnerships. \"Cutting the fine-arts director position would create a ripple effect of disorganization, lack of advocacy, and reduced opportunities for students like me,\" said Rafi Almehena, a Methuen High sophomore active in band. Several speakers named the high-school theater teacher Joni Walsh and fine-arts director Cheryl Mancini as central figures whose removal would reduce access to classes and extracurriculars.

Why it matters: dozens of speakers, many of them current students, said the arts are the reason they attend school and connect with peers. Multiple comments linked arts access to improved attendance, English-language acquisition and students' social-emotional growth; several petition drives and social-media posts were cited during testimony.

What speakers said
- Students described theater, choir and band as critical places to build confidence, leadership and social bonds. \"Without Walsh and her classes, students next year would miss out on all she has taught me and my peers,\" said a senior student leader, Doro Caesar.
- Parents and community advocates described alumni outcomes tied to arts coursework (college admissions, career paths in the arts and community events). \"These programs are not extras. They are essentials,\" said Melissa Melendez, speaking as a former MPS parent and public-school administrator.
- Teachers and arts advocates described district-level programming the director coordinates: district-wide student performances, instrument maintenance and budgets for transportation and field trips; they warned those functions would fall to classroom teachers if the director post were eliminated.

District context and administration response
Superintendent Dr. Quang and other administrators said the FY26 proposals are preliminary. No formal decision on the fine-arts positions was made at the April 16 meeting; the committee repeatedly said it would continue negotiations with the mayor's office and the city finance team as state supplemental funding and the final state budget evolve.

Speakers and supporters pledged to continue grassroots advocacy, citing petitions and community events. Several requested that the school committee direct the superintendent and district budget staff to identify alternative savings that would spare arts and core student supports.

Ending: The committee took no vote on arts staffing at the meeting; members and the superintendent said further budget work sessions will be scheduled and that they will continue to refine scenarios as state and city figures change.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Methuen School Committee Meeting 04-16-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of parents, students and teachers urged the Methuen School Committee April 16 to spare the district's fine-arts staff and programming from proposed FY26 budget cuts.","taxTitle","Methuen Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",38562,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6265701,"Superintendent details contract costs and transportation shortfall as committee weighs FY26 options",1989,5668000,7657000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089017-950a9e080628df0098d412a61e28d451&start=5668&end=7657","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089017-950a9e080628df0098d412a61e28d451/thumbnail_5668000.jpg","/articles/6265701/Massachusetts/Superintendent-details-contract-costs-and-transportation-shortfall-as-committee-weighs-FY26-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265701-4c50c1b5e9ef8d127aa821675fc37f8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870043&Signature=DHBXYaoSV7NxvVtN6kXTfr1rKO0prwpLdAFDvHMjJxWWKl7v76u6p4LRQCrNdNsfo55-hskzNR71nFdu0VG8qReLAHePNUlqcWTsypTlVS2OBFTyzRzei3jCqkixv~L35~s9f6ZbB1v66K5PXW6Z1uSQLY277KLDQBJCLMAp~OaYN6OIMdoB~ZO753bBjY8eRkOWBWRag877nV5S0Z90P~rGUazcnYM8IoRM-QEm8TETM0e2xB-OWPJmnsuNhff07AIwBYF9tLrLJLGN7rRey3Fq9xNRuFrJ4FbEGXIiuq8leLaeBHtYTb7fr-BYfR6-bGIDSkyyC8QFeL9R5~U0FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Methuen School Committee on April 16 reviewed a set of preliminary fiscal figures presented by Superintendent Dr. Quang and discussed next steps after the city provided a FY26 target that leaves a multi-million-dollar gap.

Key fiscal points read into the record
- Contract impacts: Dr. Quang read the projected cost of contracted salary increases for bargaining Unit A (teachers). The superintendent recited FY26 cost for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Unit A as $1,662,251.32 and the FY27 COLA as $2,038,020.12; step and longevity costs for Unit A were also presented (figures read during the meeting).
- Transportation shortfall: administrators said the city's initial allocation for non-net school spending (transportation and related items) was about $9.4 million while the district's transportation estimate totaled roughly $11.7 million, leaving a gap of about $2,293,542 that the district must account for or reduce.

Committee discussion and process
Committee members stressed the preliminary nature of the figures and urged the superintendent and mayor's office to continue negotiating. Representative Ryan Hamilton, who attended the meeting, described several prospective state actions (supplemental funding for special education and circuit breaker increases) that could materially improve the district's bottom line but are not finalized.

Formal, procedural actions at the meeting
- The committee accepted the amended agenda at the start of the meeting (voice vote as taken by roll call). The motion was moved by the vice chair and seconded by Member DiZaglio; the chair counted the ayes and declared the agenda accepted.
- With public participation running long the committee voted to continue past 9 p.m. (motion by Member Willett; second by Member Shabilia; the motion passed by voice vote).
- Later, the committee voted to continue past 10 p.m. by roll call (motion by Member DiZaglio; second by Member Shabilia). Roll call for that extension recorded: DeZaglio yes; Donovan yes; Keegan yes; Maxwell no; Shabilia yes; Willett no; Mayor Beauregard yes (tally 5–2 in favor).
- The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at 10:21 p.m.

Next steps
Superintendent and city finance staff said they will meet again to explore further options, review the House and Senate budget developments and analyze potential offsets (federal fund allocations, contract details and transportation routing to reduce busing costs). Multiple committee members asked the superintendent to present revised scenarios at follow-up sessions before the committee takes any final votes.","Superintendent Dr. Quang read projected contract cost increases for FY26 and later years and outlined a transportation funding gap after the city's initial allocation. Committee members and the mayor said the figures require more negotiation with city finance staff; committee extended the meeting to continue budget deliberations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6265706,"Teachers and nurses warn proposed cuts would reduce nursing, reading and specialized services for vulnerable students",5867,1152000,7019000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3089017-950a9e080628df0098d412a61e28d451&start=1152&end=7019","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3089017-950a9e080628df0098d412a61e28d451/thumbnail_1152000.jpg","/articles/6265706/Massachusetts/Teachers-and-nurses-warn-proposed-cuts-would-reduce-nursing-reading-and-specialized-services-for-vulnerable-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6265706-e773c0973a6651343095e0074f26ff28/orig.mp4?Expires=1770870043&Signature=RvLVRDY6Vh8860MHbcJDZ9InAXMPlTI52sOUhmIotveH0nk530xDwSgSjKW5FbSZLxVLYVZNqmMXDP7dxTFHAlqEsXWEKGhUr-HZEslp4XBVvTbqJUaFjr6FFLDSM8NlniLjbOR2nWYkcWN8Pq~JZ-KTGAYf~W4Vep55aTM~Mmlp6oB00RocF25pMu3RxPvA71cgejdrNMdUh1K4NEYLm4rSE-Fl6yxgOYAFrQsyr7sIxGe1rPYs9PKNLC9NHAejq-jekzmcHGC3-NRFaCLD7Yr86vqSyaxszPD7klfAjDh1r5Qc8Gyb62DrtrEqW37oiLdW3CwAGaG6-WGjEqR7uQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Methuen educators and parents told the School Committee April 16 that the district's most vulnerable students would be harmed if proposed FY26 cuts proceed as written.

Speakers described potential eliminations or reductions affecting: an LPN assigned to the Junctions medically fragile program, Marsh Grammar School's reading specialist position, Choices program staff and school medical-assistant roles. They said reductions would increase health and legal risks and could force out-of-district placements.

Nut graf: Staff argued that some positions flagged for reduction are essential to delivering legally required health and special-education services; they called on the committee to prioritize preserving staff who ensure student safety and compliance with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

What staff and parents said
- Allison Sullivan, a Junctions teacher, said the LPN assigned to the medically fragile Junctions program performs daily complex medical tasks (g-tube feeds, suctioning, oxygen monitoring and seizure response) that unlicensed staff cannot legally perform. She said eliminating the LPN would \"jeopardize the safety, health, and effectiveness of the entire program.\"
- Marsh reading specialist Melissa Kilbasa described intensive, small-group Tier 2 phonics instruction she provides to up to 50 students over the course of the year. She said the role prevents unnecessary special-education referrals and supports students whose reading lags behind peers.
- Multiple nurses and medical assistants (written comments and speakers) warned that reducing MA and nurse staffing would put nursing licenses and student safety at risk and increase reliance on costly outside contractors.
- The Choices team and multiple teachers said removing Choices staff would likely raise the district's exposure to out-of-district placements and legal noncompliance; they cited typical out-of-district cost levels in testimony and warned about service continuity.

District response and context
District leaders said they are trying to balance a city-provided FY26 target with contractual increases, transportation costs and special-education obligations. Administrators said some service models could be adjusted, but acknowledged trade-offs and warned that preserving every current position in the face of the current city number would require other, deeper cuts.

Ending: Speakers urged the committee to prioritize students with medically complex needs, students with limited reading skills and those in specialized programs during upcoming budget decisions and to seek alternatives to staff reductions that would disrupt student services.","Multiple staff and parents told the Methuen School Committee that proposed FY26 eliminations of LPN nursing support, reading specialists and Choices-program staff risk compliance with students' IEPs and would increase the likelihood of costly out-of-district placements.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Methuen community urges school committee to preserve fine-arts staff as FY26 cuts loom

Superintendent details contract costs and transportation shortfall as committee weighs FY26 options

Teachers and nurses warn proposed cuts would reduce nursing, reading and specialized services for vulnerable students