Methuen school leaders post revised FY26 proposal after weeks of debate as residents, staff urge preserving reading and arts roles

The Methuen School Committee received a revised fiscal year 2026 budget recommendation May 12 and was told the administration will post that plan for the required public hearings while work continues to narrow remaining gaps.

The revised recommendation from Superintendent Dr. Quang restores several positions the district had earlier proposed cutting, but officials said the plan still leaves a shortfall and that further changes will depend on city action and potential state support. The administration asked the city to consider roughly $1.5 million in one‑time funds to reduce layoffs.

Why it matters: Committee members, staff and dozens of speakers at the meeting said proposed cuts to reading specialists, counselors and fine‑arts positions would directly affect student supports and the district’s recovery from pandemic learning loss. Public testimony, teacher feedback and procedural deadlines converged this month as the district prepared to post a budget for the statutorily required public hearing period.

Most important facts first: Superintendent Dr. Quang told the committee the district had reworked the staffing plan after conversations with city leaders and committee members and was prepared to post the revised package to satisfy hearing deadlines. The document restored classroom teachers to keep class sizes for grades 3–8 at 25 or fewer and K–2 generally between 18 and 22. It also restored a reading specialist at each grammar school, an LPN at…