East Hampton School Committee readies community for $6.9 million override vote; votes to close high school on June 9

Chair Laura Scott opened the meeting by telling the committee and public that the city council unanimously approved a Proposition 2½ override question for $6.9 million that will appear on the June 9 ballot, and said the school side will share details in coming weeks.

Superintendent Michelle Balch presented two school-side scenarios tied to the election outcome. Under the first scenario — if the override is approved — the district still expects to need roughly $500,000 in additional reductions from the level-service budget the committee approved in March. Under the second scenario — if the override fails — the district projects potential reductions totaling about $2.75 million from that same level-service budget.

"We will present to you our recommendations as the school department and you tell us how we need to move forward," Balch said, outlining a schedule of school-committee meetings for May 12 and May 26 to review options and a June 11 meeting to finalize the committee’s budget position after the vote.

The committee voted to move its regular June 9 meeting to June 11 to accommodate the election calendar and then debated two options for managing East Hampton High School (EHS) if voting occurs at the consolidated high-school polling site. Balch described two choices: close EHS for the day and add a makeup day to the calendar (the committee’s preferred option), or keep school open for a half day while the building also serves as polling space, a plan Balch warned would be logistically difficult and raise security and lunch-service challenges.

Student representative Jess and several committee members highlighted the impact on student schedules and finals; one concern raised by the mayor and board members was that running a half day could impede voters’ access or appear to limit turnout if hours were shortened.

"I wouldn't want the teachers and the staff to have to be wondering what was happening through that entire day," said a committee member during debate, while student speakers urged the committee to consider student experience.

Linda Marque moved to add an extra day at the end of the year for high-school students — effectively closing EHS on June 9 and making June 23 the last day of school for EHS — and Sam Hunter seconded. Chair Laura Scott announced the motion carries; the transcript records the outcome as approved but does not include a full roll-call tally.

Balch gave a detailed timeline for personnel decisions tied to the budget process: the district plans to issue non-renewal notices for non-professional-status educators (those with three or fewer years in district service) on May 15, and she noted the contract deadline of June 15 for final employment decisions. If the override passes, the district would begin recall steps as early as June 12 so recalled educators know their status before the last day; the city council is scheduled to finalize the municipal budget on June 17.

Committee members emphasized the human stakes of the budget work. "We're talking about people's lives," one member said, urging transparency and kindness as the district considers reductions.

The committee also reminded the public that while the district is preparing these scenarios, many details remain subject to change as the mayor and city council finalize numbers. The superintendent said staff will present concrete recommendations at the May 12 and May 26 meetings.

The meeting closed after a handful of routine appointments and committee updates; Dr. Balch and central-office staff were publicly thanked for their work preparing the scenarios.