Bridgewater–Raynham officials say class‑size crisis is hurting instruction as superintendent outlines budget shortfall
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Summary
Superintendent Powers presented survey and school-visit findings showing sharply higher class sizes and staffing losses at the high school; committee members warned teachers are burning out and urged joint town action on the FY27 budget and capital priorities.
Superintendent Powers told the Bridgewater–Raynham Regional School Committee on Dec. 17 that the district faces significant staffing and class-size pressures that are already affecting instruction and extracurricular access.
Powers summarized feedback gathered from roughly 50 students and multiple staff groups and showed examples of overcrowded classrooms, including a staff‑reported instance of “43 students in one of my classes,” which he presented as part of the district’s survey findings. He said the high school is down “20 plus positions” compared with prior years and that average class sizes have risen substantially in some courses. Powers said the presentation and slides will be shared with both towns and with the public and that district leaders have invited town managers and finance staff to school tours so officials can see classroom conditions firsthand.
Why it matters: Committee members said the numbers amount to an urgent operational and educational problem. Several members warned that continued cuts would cause teacher burnout, reduce academic rigor and push families to consider private options. “If we cut anymore, we’re not cutting. We’re dissecting,” committee member Mister Fitzgibbons said during the discussion.
What committee members said: Multiple school committee members—among them Mister Loach, Mister Fitzgibbons and Miss Kim (Conrad Labrinto)—said the presentation confirmed what teachers and parents have been reporting. Members urged broad community outreach: photographing and publishing classroom conditions, briefing town councils, and using the Jan. 21 joint town–school meeting to seek clearer funding commitments from both municipalities.
Budget next steps: Powers said he has begun formal FY27 budget discussions with both towns and finance teams and will present a preliminary district budget to the committee on Jan. 28. The committee scheduled a joint town and school committee meeting for Jan. 21 to review the district’s preliminary requests with town officials.
The committee did not take a formal funding vote at the Dec. 17 meeting; members said they will continue deliberations during January subcommittee work and the upcoming joint town session.