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Elementary principals seek staff and program changes as district weighs relocation and CEP requests
Summary
Elementary principals and staff outlined staffing requests — including maintaining and funding an intensive‑needs teacher, adding a full‑time paraprofessional to support behavior services at Bridal Brook, and increasing Memorial’s librarian to full time — and discussed a proposed relocation of two programs (BP and NEC) between Memorial and Riddle
Elementary principals and special‑program leaders addressed staffing, program adjustments and a proposed facility relocation during the FY27 budget review.
Superintendent Sue Ginaro told the board the district added a proposed relocation to the CEP: "We estimate there could be around $20,000 worth of expenses should we decide to move Beep from Memorial to Riddle Brook and move NEC from Riddle Brook to Memorial." The relocation is intended to free up up to four classrooms at Memorial and better utilize space at Riddle Brook. Ginaro said a final decision would be made no later than Dec. 15 before the public hearing on the budget.
Riddle Brook principal Molly McCarthy and Memorial principal Phil Shappler described program impacts and site visits. McCarthy said the existing NEC cubbies at Riddle Brook are "pretty well installed" and likely would be left in place; she said removing them now could damage walls and that the district would construct comparable cubbies at Memorial if the move proceeds. Phil Shappler said he and staff walked Memorial to catalog furniture and equipment that would need relocation if NEC were moved.
Staff also requested personnel changes tied to student needs: a third intensive‑needs teacher to continue a program the board had approved for a one‑year pilot; Bridal Brook staff asked to convert a part‑time behavior specialist arrangement into a full‑time paraprofessional to provide consistent support on days the specialist is not on site; and Memorial requested increasing its librarian from four to five days per week to restore a full‑time library position and expand programming.
Budget questions focused on how positions are budgeted when incumbents are known versus when a placeholder is used for an unfilled position. The superintendent and staff said when a position is unfilled the district budgets a placeholder salary (noted in the packet as $120,000 in one example), but if the incumbent is known the budget can use that staff member’s specific salary and benefits to refine the figure.
No formal board votes on these personnel requests were recorded in the session; principals and staff will return with line‑by‑line numbers at future budget meetings.
