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Budget task force recommends shared specialist staffing and schedule changes to address $2.3M shortfall
Summary
A district task force and consultant New Solutions K12 presented options including shifting specialists from a one‑per‑school model to shared staffing, reallocating a portion of classroom assistant funding, and measuring need by student metrics to address a ~ $2.3 million gap.
The Acton‑Boxborough Elementary Budget Task Force and consultant New Solutions K12 presented a set of difficult options on Dec. 19 to address a reported $2.3 million shortfall, recommending structural changes such as shared specialists, equity‑based staffing formulas and schedule alignment across elementary schools.
Tori, co‑lead of the task force, described a process that included 25 task force members, roughly 700 survey responses and multiple public listening sessions. She said the group prioritized maximizing student‑facing time and allocating scarce staff "where they're most needed."
Consultant Nate Levinson of New Solutions K12 framed the findings as tradeoffs. He said the work uncovered "no painless reductions" and broke opportunities into five major areas: (1) align non‑classroom staffing to student‑need via an equity formula, (2) increase student‑facing minutes and adjust group sizes for specialists, (3) examine use and levels of general education classroom assistance, (4) staff "specials" teachers (art, music, PE, library) more closely to workload using partial or shared FTEs, and (5) revisit open enrollment policies for equity tradeoffs (he reported open enrollment currently saves the district money rather than costs it).
Key numeric context: the task force cited a $2,300,000 shortfall driving consideration of structural changes. The consultant estimated that staffing specials more precisely "is about a half a $1,000,000 opportunity" (cost‑saving potential if implemented precisely) and reported roughly $650,000 invested in general education classroom assistance.
The presentation prompted many questions from committee members and staff about data assumptions and implementation. Nate and Tori acknowledged differences in how time‑use can be measured (for example, Wednesdays, contract time, and travel) and stressed that sharing staff requires unified elementary schedules and careful operational planning to avoid chaotic implementations.
Several staff speakers and committee members also raised process concerns: a phrase captured in task force notes—referring to some roles as "low hanging fruit"—was widely criticized; the committee and task force leaders apologized for the offense and clarified that the comment was written by an individual during an open meeting activity and does not reflect the district's position.
Next steps: the superintendent will present a district budget on Jan. 30; the committee and administration said they will refine options and consider implementation feasibility before any formal staffing decisions.
Provenance: the task force presentation began with Tori's remarks and Nate's slide presentation and question period at the Dec. 19 meeting.
