School committee chair Kim Schott outlines cuts to Norris elementary after override failed

At a Feb. 26 finance committee meeting, Kim Schott, introduced by the Select Board to present the North/Norris school budget, told officials that last year’s failed override led to the elimination of a kindergarten teacher, a first‑grade teacher, the art teacher, two paraprofessionals, half a nurse, a 0.2 reading specialist, half an administrative assistant and all math interventionists.

"When the override failed in May, Norris lost a kindergarten teacher, a first grade teacher, the art teacher, two paraprofessionals, half a nurse, 0.2 reading specialist, half an administrative assistant," Schott said, outlining staffing reductions and service cuts that remain part of planning for fiscal 2027. She added that occupational therapy dropped to 0.75 FTE and speech dropped to 0.5 FTE.

Schott said all K–6 classroom supply lines were zeroed out, forcing teachers to rely on parent‑teacher organizations, families and, in some cases, their own money to provide classroom materials. She also said Norris is the only elementary in the Hampshire Regional School District without a STEAM program and that a planned STEAM addition was not included in the FY27 budget because it would have required an override.

Committee members and presenters highlighted the immediate instructional impacts of the cuts. Schott and members said kindergarten and first grade sections were reduced from four to three, raising typical class sizes from about 15–16 students to roughly 19–20. "Those grades need small class sizes," Schott said, arguing the larger groups make it harder for teachers to individualize instruction.

On student services, Schott said reduced nurse coverage and fewer reading, math and related specialists mean small‑group interventions are larger and slower to meet students’ needs. She also noted reduced administrative support has delayed family communications and daily operations.

A finance committee member asked whether the district is managing special education spending, which some at the meeting described as a large and growing component of the budget. Schott said the district’s recently hired director of people services has reviewed special education costs, recovered revenue the district should have billed to sending districts and identified efficiencies, but added that legal obligations for free appropriate public education limit local discretion over services.

Schott addressed state aid and school‑choice revenue: she cited Chapter 70 state aid figures for the district (about $2,742,798 for fiscal 26 and a governor’s fiscal 27 proposal of $2,778,723), and explained the town receives $5,000 per school‑choice student as a flat payment that generally does not cover full per‑pupil costs. She read current school‑choice counts by grade to illustrate that choice students typically "top off" existing classes rather than create full new sections.

Schott said the school committee directed the business office to prepare a "restorative" budget at its Feb. 11 meeting, with the aim of restoring some positions. She characterized the committee’s definition of "restorative" as not precisely defined and said feasibility will depend on final revenue, state aid and other factors.

The Hampshire Regional School District budget for FY27 is scheduled to be posted on the district website by 6 p.m. on March 9, and a public hearing is scheduled for March 11, Schott said. Committee members discussed the political challenge of passing overrides and the need to educate the broader community about the consequences of cuts.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.