Manchester officials warn state aid cut would be ‘catastrophic’ for schools

Summary

Manchester School District leaders told visiting state legislators Oct. 15 that a proposed reduction in targeted state aid of about $12.6 million, together with a decades-long local tax cap and rising special-education and transportation costs, would force major service cuts, large staff reductions and reserves depletion.

Manchester School Committee member Dr. Sean Parr opened a meeting with state legislators on Oct. 15 by framing the city’s schools as a large, high-need district facing immediate budget pressure. “Our enrollment is fairly stable at around 12,000 students,” Parr said, noting that about 25% are identified for special education, roughly 20% are multilingual learners and 54% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

The committee’s presentation warned that local, state and federal funding changes leave Manchester among the lowest-funded districts in the state on a per-pupil basis. The presentation said Manchester’s average per-pupil spending was about $17,733 compared with a state average near $21,545 and said a state budget bill passed in June would cap Manchester’s targeted aid and reduce that aid by roughly $12.6 million beginning in fiscal 2028.

Why it matters: District leaders said the combined effect of the local tax cap, the proposed reduction in targeted aid and rising…

Manchester officials warn state aid cut would be ‘catastrophic’ for schools

Summary

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