Parents, students and teachers urge Greenwich BOE to abandon proposed Central Middle School cuts

Dozens of students, parents and teachers pressed the Greenwich Board of Education to abandon proposed cuts that would remove four full-time equivalent (FTE) core teachers from Central Middle School and 6.5 FTE plus one administrator from Greenwich High School, warning the moves would damage instruction and student supports.

The plea came during an extended public-comment period in which seniors, sixth- to eighth-graders, classroom teachers and PTA leaders described the team-based middle-school model as central to students' social-emotional and academic success. "Without teachers, we have no education," GHS senior Rhianna McKersie said, urging the board to "keep the 4 FTE at CMS and 6.5 FTE and 1 admin at GHS." (Rhianna McKersie, student speaker.)

Why it matters: Central Middle School was built around a grade-level team model that schedules co-planning time for core teachers and a dedicated special-education teacher per grade. Multiple speakers said past reductions (cited repeatedly in testimony as a prior 2.4 FTE cut) have already forced teachers to cover multiple grades and curtailed electives. Counselors and teachers described cascading operational problems when a teacher is split across teams: fewer common planning minutes, more fragmented 504/IEP coordination, and less opportunity for targeted interventions.

"The team-based model is how we anchor them during these years," said Colleen Alfano, a Central Middle School counselor, adding the school needs only "roughly 17 additional students in both sixth and seventh grade to fully support 2 complete teams per grade," a potential temporary remedy she urged the board to pursue rather than staff reductions.

Teachers and the Greenwich Education Association framed the staffing debate as part of a wider morale problem. Margaret Jackins, president of the Greenwich Education Association, told the board "teacher morale in Greenwich is extremely low," and she pushed the board and administration to engage in sustained listening and negotiation rather than proceeding with cuts.

What the board said: Superintendent Jones told the audience the budget decision is still on the board's calendar for December; she acknowledged the community's concerns and said the administration would continue discussions over the next month. Several board members said they would explore enrollment-based temporary options (limited open enrollment or targeted lotteries) and gather more data before making final decisions.

Next steps: The board reiterated that operating-budget decisions will be discussed and decided at the December meeting; several speakers asked that any staffing action be postponed until the board has considered open-enrollment options, petition results (speakers referenced a petition with more than 650 signatures), and a longer view of enrollment trends.

Ending: Speakers closed by urging the board to preserve the cohesion of teams and protect electives and special-education supports. The board left the budget item on the December agenda; no formal staffing vote was taken at this meeting.