[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6236412,"mediaKeyId","3364708-79a49278d7dab9ad5197a738f63b12f3","parentId",3364708,"title","Parents, teachers and students urge board to protect counselors, media assistants and ALP amid FY26 cuts","audioSeconds",344,"startMs",379000,"endMs",723000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3364708-79a49278d7dab9ad5197a738f63b12f3&start=379&end=723","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3364708-79a49278d7dab9ad5197a738f63b12f3/thumbnail_379000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6236412/Connecticut/Parents-teachers-and-students-urge-board-to-protect-counselors-media-assistants-and-ALP-amid-FY26-cuts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236412-91e9fefd15c09ee7aff6fb7f0522b0aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955626&Signature=B9XTi6yQLx6Pc7-~jj0EAmcN4wZ4His4tUuf5ZLbTWFByFAU0~tt7fbLBjz7GWCmj2nATF8573gFh3vxL8ZA4BZ4k386WJZm41p6Feop7r7g5iEYz4Dui0tgDrh99QGcKbKHesjhv9-zPZ1MhcvD0iMFIV4XdB71oevbG8E58F~dVw~9zgwUjd5ztos6hR6AnQDYaSQobsBsP44X07MXmQWVOb7Y6PjOdQ98x~dbrrsf2AWQXNa0Ih0avdyeFgxnWBu22f7T0DVBTrN5aztMSj~iWo5rt0uOvf-wtRFzsLst7pQiaqCmXOMwOVvhwfW0fy~-SmmR~XBp55qaDxlB7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Greenwich School District","date","2025-05-16T13:23:13Z","article","Dozens of speakers — including teachers, union representatives, parents and students — used the public-comment portion of the Greenwich Board of Education meeting to press the board to spare student-facing positions and programs from FY26 budget cuts.

Union leaders and school administrators recommended alternatives to proposed cuts to counselors, learning facilitators, media assistants and other staff. The Greenwich Education Association (GEA) and the Greenwich Organization of School Administrators (GOSA) urged the board to eliminate nonessential external spending, reduce costly travel and tuition lines, and reassess device-purchase plans for early elementary grades. GOSA cited a comparison of 2023–24 actuals ($361,884) and a proposed 2025–26 professional-development/tuition budget ($584,000) and suggested reverting to actuals to save more than $222,000.

Speakers described the concrete role of house-based staff and media assistants: library/media staff and assistants run daily operations, support research instruction, help manage graduation requirements and provide a consistent, frontline adult presence for students. Karen Ball, a library media specialist, said GHS averages “800 student visits every day” to the media center and warned that cutting support staff would shrink supervision and instruction time.

Several students and parents also spoke on specialized programs. A five‑year‑old kindergarten student, Sebastian Hess, asked the board to protect second‑grade ALP services; GOSA suggested modest reductions to some enrichment offerings only after considering instructional impacts. Parents and special‑education advocates said morning help and extra time are critical, particularly for students with learning disabilities; one special‑education student told the board that earlier start times would reduce morning help options and disadvantage already vulnerable students.

Numerous speakers criticized the timing and process of last week’s staffing notifications; several said layoff notices were sent with little advance consultation. Media assistants and other staff asked for clearer, more consultative decision processes and said their roles cannot be replaced by volunteers.

Board members acknowledged the breadth of public concern while noting the board must balance a significant operating deficit. The meeting produced several decisions — including removing the GHS house-restructuring proposal from this year’s cuts and adopting a start-time and reduction package — and the board authorized the superintendent to identify specified additional non‑FTE reductions. Speakers and board members agreed the community must continue to work together to find less disruptive savings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 15, 2025 Board of Education Business Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Hundreds of speakers and dozens of students addressed the Board of Education, urging alternatives to staff cuts and calling attention to the value of counselors, media assistants, library staff, the second-grade advanced learning program (ALP), and other student-facing services.","taxTitle","Greenwich School District, School Districts, Connecticut","taxId",38354,"location","Connecticut","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},6236413,"Board accepts Greenwich High School vestibule project as complete, reports project finished under budget",101,7228000,7329000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3364708-79a49278d7dab9ad5197a738f63b12f3&start=7228&end=7329","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3364708-79a49278d7dab9ad5197a738f63b12f3/thumbnail_7228000.jpg","/articles/6236413/Connecticut/Board-accepts-Greenwich-High-School-vestibule-project-as-complete-reports-project-finished-under-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236413-105a4a1c7abd179ea972f9399fe585f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955626&Signature=f0CFhOMDXMpS6NlzSn-dQQZvj5wqtCUiotg7CgSxVvMxQ0XgWqTkJlhbHjtSkOQEhPQupDdvQGwytRf4euqaVeuyn75cYylm~oGmdarH1jd~4jc~9VfxchpoYuMeA1DGsXf9Kyr44C404AB-5jRcwQY4ZZiARLjb2~ZT61RvGWVf9rY6kkURRNJNU-5RRT9HXW5Q5EU0GHwMnQsHSBlwnfnUJD-rjJ2OW8dICxwEfCXEJjyEEoHcdzqPeP5KX7-VQmFNu9tBIvYR4Aw2cNstOYImn9o1JPz6FLTPJAj58Z-sCfhVizMSMyD7FaVs2wAM0XiP3-QCDjBOctI3cWWRZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Greenwich Board of Education voted unanimously to accept the Greenwich High School entryway (vestibule) project as complete.

Stephen Walco, chair of the building committee, told the board the town had appropriated $3.5 million for the project and that it finished on time and under budget. Walco said the project should return roughly $100,000 to the general fund after final closeout and that the district had already received approximately $487,000 in state reimbursement toward an anticipated $600,000 total.

Board members thanked the building committee for completing the work on schedule and under budget. The board then took a recorded vote, approving acceptance of the building project 7–0.

The board’s acceptance transfers responsibility for the completed entrance project from the building committee to the district for operation and maintenance.","The Board of Education accepted the Greenwich High School entryway (vestibule) construction as complete, with the chair of the building committee reporting the project came in on time and under the $3.5 million appropriation.",{"_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},6236414,"Board approves 7:45 a.m. Greenwich High School start, adds morning \"wind\" block as part of FY26 reductions",991,7560000,8551000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3364708-79a49278d7dab9ad5197a738f63b12f3&start=7560&end=8551","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3364708-79a49278d7dab9ad5197a738f63b12f3/thumbnail_7560000.jpg","/articles/6236414/Connecticut/Board-approves-745-am-Greenwich-High-School-start-adds-morning-wind-block-as-part-of-FY26-reductions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236414-44a677b88f6f835b82f0934d09adcfa8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955626&Signature=Aymxo4YmQiHmcFPU0Enw3Rq6ohlC2dcZh~u~Z5E6INXch2-x5OI9v-D3~QdF~w7F9zF06YArOCHVwZlzXXWMYjWj5fS4pXISoWgF2uT7-Ba4jPvzCfQEfwZQw7Iff1Rabh7rxv10EwGotyMRfYVEej7i5jEBXfqiHD2zr~mvuqwk5Kpc5rAr7ZOLffdkE2xu0mxdLzBZCGhfrZhvTMflnL8NNSNaMgo316Tsn10THeFrKISfsrDDUO2LN8Ws1hU--9r7POHMU~LcNHcRgvZIU-qGkIxP3NtHMzpVK-og8Ah9ghjxgGXf1WTQo3D7hv-7axnA8-YC4qZGc4hbMOuHZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Greenwich Board of Education voted to move the Greenwich High School first bell to 7:45 a.m., with the first academic bell at 8:00 a.m., and to apply further targeted budget reductions to help close the FY26 operating shortfall.

Board member Colvin introduced the motion, framing the plan as a compromise that would achieve roughly $1.9–$2.0 million in transportation savings while restoring a morning period for student supports. Colvin described a 15-minute morning period—described during discussion as a “wind block”—for students to meet teachers, guidance counselors or club advisors before academic classes begin at 8:00 a.m.

The proposal prompted extensive public comment. Some students and community members supported an earlier bell on fiscal grounds. Nicholas Sosa, a student speaker, said moving to a 7:30 a.m. start would save “approximately $2,500,000 through transportation efficiencies” and framed an earlier start as preferable to cutting teaching staff. Other speakers, including parents, teachers and pediatric sleep experts, urged the board to keep the current 8:30 a.m. start time for health and safety reasons. Pediatric sleep physician Dr. Craig Canopyre of Yale recommended maintaining later start times, citing research on adolescent circadian rhythms and risks associated with chronic sleep deprivation.

After discussion, the board adopted the start-time motion on a vote of 6–0–1 (six yes, zero no, one abstention). Directors then voted to authorize the superintendent to identify an additional $551,469 in reductions at her discretion—so long as no further full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions would be cut—to complete the district’s needed reductions. That motion passed on a subsequent vote.

Superintendent Dr. Jones and district staff said they would work with principals, transportation and public‑safety partners to implement schedule changes and to design the morning “wind” block so students could continue to access counseling, academic help and extracurricular meeting time. The board and administrators emphasized that logistics—including bus routing and school dismissal times—would be finalized by staff before the change takes effect.

Board members said they viewed the 7:45/8:00 compromise as a way to protect classroom positions while providing a limited morning period for support and activities, even as they recognized competing medical and safety evidence presented by speakers. The board’s action aims to close the FY26 budget gap while preserving classroom FTEs and some extracurricular access.","Facing an FY26 budget gap, the Greenwich Board of Education approved moving Greenwich High School’s first bell to 7:45 a.m., with the first academic class beginning at 8:00 a.m., and approved further budget reductions. The change passed after public debate over student sleep, transportation savings and program impacts.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6236415,"Greenwich Board removes proposed Greenwich High School house restructuring after board straw poll and public comment",7272,167000,7439000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3364708-79a49278d7dab9ad5197a738f63b12f3&start=167&end=7439","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3364708-79a49278d7dab9ad5197a738f63b12f3/thumbnail_167000.jpg","/articles/6236415/Connecticut/Greenwich-Board-removes-proposed-Greenwich-High-School-house-restructuring-after-board-straw-poll-and-public-comment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6236415-4e1ab7765a0d75d5275779dcd63a469b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770955626&Signature=J7JBo3VHL5cszLPTNkA~Z-XBTLA0fzBn3X8u-ErASF71bGdkRerMf9polaGsLnp-CV0tY4DVKh2qohHK8koCcfCcpQm1HjxUtjjhEm2X7WrdvVsKmTHQUwGh0GtZGgv68V1no-K~isZCF-cjkZVl8UeLMYAEDysk~tha4pGwGjRB5H9NooA-Iq22BKssyAs-aSXEVzYjGXh-2icZSIpkFElCn4I~1tN049XFL9GPS2vxlr-HDlgi1qKbpW-cKlL-sBwioUVGovAaDTGHOKLlquLXG~-ca20UzNfU-v38a6lNY8SBSrauMcFVD-vgTVhONmEwmzLUOilx0tIU1xvPmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Greenwich Board of Education voted to remove from this year’s budget-reduction proposals the suggested restructuring of the house system at Greenwich High School after an informal board straw poll showed no support and public commenters urged the board to keep house teams intact.

Board chair Hirsch told the meeting that board members would take an informal poll before the public hearing; during the roll call all seven members present indicated they were opposed to moving forward with house restructuring. The board then made and approved a formal motion to remove the house-restructuring suggestion from the current budget-reduction list.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment in which students, teachers, unions and parents described the house teams as core to student supports. Speakers said house counselors, deans, social workers and administrative assistants provide day-to-day mental-health triage, continuity for students and families, and counseling relationships built over years. Amanda Finn, a GHS school social worker, told the board those house staff “ride in ambulances with [students], sit beside them in hospital beds, and develop plans to ensure a smooth reentry to school,” and said losing key staff would have “immediate and lasting consequences.”

Union and parent groups pressed the board to look for alternatives to cuts that would remove student-facing staff. The Greenwich Organization of School Administrators (GOSA) asked the board to review specific instructional and professional-development budget lines before cutting house staff. GOSA told the board that reverting certain professional-development and tuition lines to 2023–24 actuals would yield significant savings without eliminating student-facing positions.

After discussion the board adopted a motion to remove the house-restructuring proposal from the FY26 list of reductions; the motion passed on a recorded vote of 7–0.

Board members and the superintendent said the decision to remove the item from this year’s cuts does not foreclose future study. Chair Hirsch and other members said the district can examine house staffing and operations in a deliberate process that includes stakeholder input, but that immediate, unilateral restructuring during this budget cycle would be too disruptive.

The action comes amid a larger, townwide budget shortfall that the Board of Education said it must address through a combination of reductions and operational changes. The board indicated it would continue to seek alternate savings and to work with town budget officials on a balanced FY26 operating plan.","The Greenwich Board of Education voted to remove a proposal to restructure the house system at Greenwich High School following a board straw poll showing no support and widespread public comment urging retention of the house teams and student supports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents, teachers and students urge board to protect counselors, media assistants and ALP amid FY26 cuts

Board accepts Greenwich High School vestibule project as complete, reports project finished under budget

Board approves 7:45 a.m. Greenwich High School start, adds morning "wind" block as part of FY26 reductions

Greenwich Board removes proposed Greenwich High School house restructuring after board straw poll and public comment