Braintree school committee pauses redistricting and potential closures; mayor pledges short-term funding to preserve programs

Braintree School Committee members on Monday voted unanimously to take no action on proposed redistricting and school-closure plans and to begin a districtwide master-planning process, pausing any changes that would close elementary schools for the coming year.

The decision follows extended public comment focused on a proposal known as Option 2C — a plan that, district materials show, would close Ross Elementary and is estimated to save roughly $520,000 to $595,000. Community members and several committee members warned that the recommended cuts could remove 11.4 staff positions and eliminate programs including fifth-grade MathLab and seventh-grade world language unless other funding is secured.

The pause came after a lengthy public comment period in which parents and residents urged the committee to preserve neighborhood schools and programs. Teresa Juspanski, a parent who said she has worked as a teacher and mathematics curriculum director, told the committee, "In our financial situation, a no vote for option 2 c is a yes vote to cutting 11.4 positions, removing seventh…