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Council schedules meeting with schools and Revere Teachers Association after teachers warn of cuts
Summary
Revere teachers and community members urged transparency about proposed budget cuts. The council voted to require the mayor, the Revere Public Schools CFO, the superintendent and Revere Teachers Association representatives to appear before the council to discuss the cuts and impacts.
The Revere City Council on May 12 approved a motion requiring the mayor, the Revere Public Schools chief financial officer, the superintendent and representatives of the Revere Teachers Association (RTA) to appear before the council to discuss incoming budget cuts, their impact on students and staff, and options to preserve jobs.
Teachers and union leaders spoke during public comment, expressing concern about “behind‑the‑scenes” discussions and the potential loss of classroom positions. Jane Chapin, co‑president of the Revere Teachers Association, told the council: “Any decisions that are made about our jobs need to be made with Revere teachers in the room. Educators must be part of this process.”
Why it matters: RTA leaders said emails and informal briefings have created confusion and anxiety among educators; councilors said they want a transparent, public review of the district’s budget, assumptions behind projected deficits and options to avoid layoffs.
Public comment and council action
Several public speakers told the council they support measures to protect teacher jobs and to prioritize education spending. At least one public speaker urged greater emphasis on vocational education as part of budget planning.
Councilor Cas Caballero amended the motion to specify the Revere Public Schools CFO (not the city CFO) be included; the council adopted the amendment. The council then voted to call the requested parties to appear; the motion passed on a voice vote with council assent.
Clarifications raised in the meeting
Councilors and speakers referenced a school‑department budget gap discussed earlier in the meeting; Councilor Kelly said the district has announced a $7.3 million operating deficit for the coming year during the meeting’s debate on other items. RTA leaders asked that any budget or staffing decisions be made with teacher input and for greater transparency on the process and timetable.
Next steps
The council requested a public meeting with the named participants to review the budget assumptions, timeline for any personnel decisions, and possible internal reallocations or city supports to reduce the risk of layoffs. The clerk will schedule the appearance and the council requested written budget materials in advance.
