Residents, educators urge trustees to preserve Outdoor School, music and bargaining agreement funding

Nine community speakers used the board's public comment period to press trustees to protect programs and staff as the FY27 budget is finalized.

Laurie Schwartz Reichel, a parent and music educator, urged the board to preserve elementary instrumental music and write the budget to protect programs that build student confidence. "Music meets students where they are," she said, asking trustees not to eliminate music programs for short‑term savings.

Multiple speakers, including Lisa Masano and Julie Walsh, called for the board to request additional county funding to keep Outdoor School, a long‑running middle‑school program they said provides environmental learning, resilience and equity for students. Several parents and a CCPS employee noted that ending Outdoor School would create a 'have' and 'have not' dynamic for families who could then only access similar experiences privately.

Cindy Porter, president of C.A.S.E., urged the board to fully fund the recently ratified bargaining agreement and to consider the staffing and special education impacts of additional cuts. Celeste Jordan (CCA) called additional cuts of 15 FTE "reckless and shortsighted" and asked the board to secure funding that preserves educator compensation and services.

Timothy Redmond, speaking as a CPA and teacher, described a budget as "a moral document" and urged trustees to weigh the long‑term values and community consequences of program cuts, including whether to ask commissioners for more support.

Board chair and staff listened and acknowledged the public input; trustees said they will consider public testimony as they weigh internal adjustments and a possible county funding request when they reconvene to vote in February.