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New Britain residents urge council to avert school cuts as teachers, nurses and programs face layoffs
Summary
More than 50 speakers at an April 28 Common Council hearing pressed New Britain officials to close an $11–$19 million school funding gap without cutting teachers, nurses, bilingual aides or sports. Parents, students, nurses and union reps proposed using reserves, reallocation or state aid to preserve services.
Dozens of parents, students, teachers and school staff packed a New Britain Common Council public hearing on April 28 to plead with aldermen not to approve proposed budget cuts that would eliminate positions and programs across the Consolidated School District of New Britain.
The hearing, convened by the council chair, focused on the mayor's proposed fiscal-year budget for 2026-27 and the district's projected funding shortfall. At issue were layoffs of hundreds of positions on layoff lists and proposed reductions to athletics, bilingual supports, family-school liaisons and district nursing services.
Why it matters: Speakers said the proposed reductions would immediately affect classroom safety, legally required special education services and students' daily access to counselors, nurses and extracurriculars. Several speakers urged the council to use a measured portion of reserves, move money between departments, or press the state legislature for additional aid to…
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