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Committee debates staffing trade-offs: paraprofessionals, literacy specialist and community schools managers
Summary
Members argued over cuts to paraprofessionals and tutors, a motion placed a literacy specialist into suspense, and some schools opted to add community schools managers; staff said many choices were school-level decisions reflected in the budget book re‑rollup.
The budget hearing turned repeatedly to staffing trade-offs as committee members questioned central-office cuts and school-level choices.
Several members said cuts to paraprofessionals, tutors and bilingual family liaisons would harm classroom supports. "Those positions will have a negative effect on thousands of students," one member said of proposed reductions to paraprofessionals, tutors and social workers.
On literacy support, a motion by member Rossi — seconded by a colleague — put a proposed literacy specialist position into a suspense account pending receipt of school site council documentation; the motion passed 6–1. Superintendent staff cautioned that the motion changes the system by denying a principal-requested position unless the committee approves restoration.
The committee also discussed an increase in community schools managers from five to eight next year, with staff saying schools had chosen those positions and that many are teacher-line roles with varying salary scales. "The schools have vouched for this position," a senior administrator said, and staff described community schools managers as providing wraparound services connecting families to health and mental-health supports.
Members asked staff to provide a clear breakdown of where positions moved in the reworked budget book so the committee can see whether cuts were central-office reductions or school-based decisions.
