Merrimack Valley School Board adopts ‘Option 1’ budget revisions, cutting 19 positions and some programs

The Merrimack Valley School Board voted Thursday night to adopt a revised budget package labeled “Option 1,” approving a mix of one‑year and permanent cuts that administrators say will reduce roughly 19 faculty and staff positions and require other program reductions.

Administrators told the board the package balances district priorities while limiting the number of employees who will lose payed positions through a formal reduction‑in‑force (RIF). Assistant Superintendent Catherine Masterson said the administration expects at most three employees could lose employment through the RIF process, and that offers will be made to place affected staff in positions outside their collective bargaining units when possible.

Why it matters: Board and administration leaders presented two budget packages after a statutory timeline compelled the district to submit final numbers to the Department of Revenue Administration. Supporters of Option 1 argued it spreads cuts across many lines, preserves routine capital and vehicle replacement cycles and restores some summer curriculum work; critics warned that even surgical cuts will reduce services and harm students if not monitored and reversed when possible.

What’s in Option 1: The administration presented the following notable elements as part of the approved package.

- Staffing: A net reduction of about 19 positions across schools and programs. The district said many reductions come through attrition…