Swampscott schools report roughly $700,000 budget gap; committee accepts five donations by voice vote

The Swampscott School Committee on March 13 said the district remains about $700,000 apart from the town’s position on the operating budget and warned that any further reductions would come from core educational services.

Why it matters: Committee members said the remaining gap cannot be closed by trimming peripheral line items without affecting classrooms, and they urged town officials and committee members to understand the tradeoffs of further cuts in services and staffing.

Committee chair Glenn Pastor told the meeting the district and town are roughly $700,000 apart and that "if we have to reduce, it will come from core education." He said the district has already trimmed positions and operating lines in prior years and that reducing now would likely affect classrooms. Assistant Superintendent Cheryl Stella (on Zoom) said she had again reviewed the budget line by line and found little additional discretionary spending to cut, calling the remaining options "peanuts."

The committee discussed ongoing meetings with town officials, including a recent session with the interim town administrator and select‑board representatives and an upcoming joint meeting with the finance committee. Committee members emphasized they will continue to explain the implications of cuts; one member said some new finance‑committee members “really are just learning” how school budgets translate to staff and classroom services.

Labor and negotiations: The committee said it is actively engaged in contract negotiations with the Swampscott Education Association main unit (teachers, nurses and related staff) and with paraprofessionals (ESP) using interest‑based bargaining (IBB). The committee said bargaining teams meet weekly and exchange information by email.

Donations and formal actions: The committee read five donations into the record and accepted them in one motion, by voice vote with no recorded opposition. Donations accepted were:

- $1,000 from Randy Werner to Swampscott High School athletics, given in memory of coach Frank DeFelice. - $646 from Swampscott Track Boosters for indoor track coaching stipends. - $2,660 from the Swampscott High School boys basketball boosters restricted for coach Ron Young’s stipend. - $2,882 from Big Blue Boys High School Lacrosse boosters to cover half the cost of new helmets (the athletic revolving account will cover the other half). - $300 from Shore Diversity to reimburse supplies and a pizza party for a METCO Black History Month door‑decorating contest.

Chair Pastor asked for a motion to accept the donations; a committee member moved and a second was given. Pastor called the voice vote: "All those in favor say aye." The clerk recorded no opposition.

The committee also approved the minutes of the committee’s regular session in February 2025 by voice vote and later moved and approved adjournment with a voice vote.

Ending: Committee leaders said they will continue budget discussions with town officials and finance‑committee members and continue bargaining talks; no financial remedy was announced on March 13.