Oyster River voters amend operating budget to restore staff after debate over interventionists and nursing cuts

Heather Smith presented the district’s proposed FY27 operating budget and explained its composition and drivers: salaries (~50.7% of fund 10), benefits (~26.4%, with health-insurance increases), plant services, special education, IT and transportation. Smith said pre-approved contract increases (guild and other bargaining units) plus rising health insurance explained most of the requested increase.

The board identified roughly $1.3–$1.4 million in funded new requests and about $1 million in reductions; reductions included six FTEs (combining tutor/intervention and other positions) intended to align staffing with enrollment and program changes. Multiple residents, including union leaders and parents, urged keeping interventionists, paraprofessionals and at least one nurse, arguing these roles are essential for student well-being and for maintaining improved outcomes from pandemic-era interventions.

A citizen amendment was moved to increase the article by $519,000 to reinsert two full-time teachers, one full-time nurse and three full-time academic-support roles. The moderator clarified that wording of budget articles is prescribed by law (the explanatory statement is not part of the warrant), then the meeting voted by show-of-hands; the amendment passed by a majority and Article 4 was amended to $62,365,667 and will go to the March ballot as amended. The meeting restricted reconsideration of Article 4 for the night.

What’s next: Article 4, as amended, will appear on the March 10 ballot. If voters defeat the proposed operating budget at the ballot, the district would operate under the default budget; the board noted the default would be approximately $1.38M lower than the proposed budget.