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Masconomet committee debates department‑head consolidations, FTE targets and tradeoffs to avoid an override
Summary
The Masconomet School Committee reviewed administration’s scenario‑driven plan to cut two department‑head positions and discussed tradeoffs (including a potential middle‑school team cut) needed to meet town budget targets; administration said a further $160,000 would be required to reach a 2.5% tax‑impact target.
The Masconomet Regional School Committee on March 4 wrestled with how to meet FY27 budget targets while limiting harm to students, weighing administration proposals that would eliminate two department‑head positions and produce dozens of class‑section reductions under a modeled “scenario two.”
Administration’s presentation: ELT members told the committee that consolidating department heads was a requested scenario and presented current FTE counts by department (examples: science/technology/engineering 18.4 FTE; math 17.4; world language/EL 14.4). Officials said scenario two assumes cutting two positions and reassembling department responsibilities afterward, and that implementation would need time and detailed collaboration with department heads.
Enrollment and sections: Administrators showed projected section reductions under the scenario; one model indicated the proposed middle‑school team reduction would account for roughly 20 section reductions and that total section reductions across the draft plan would be substantial. Committee members and teachers warned that eliminating a middle‑school team would harm student belonging and team structures central to middle‑school pedagogy.
Budget arithmetic and tradeoffs: An administration summary presented to the three member towns indicated that to reach a 2.5% tax‑impact target the district would need to find an additional roughly $160,000 in cuts under the current scenario (breakdown example given in presentation: approximately $83,000 Boxford, $8,000 Middleton, $68,000 Topsfield). Committee members discussed alternatives including non‑staff “knobs” (transportation consolidation, increased fees) but administration said most long‑term savings are personnel driven.
Governance question — who decides which positions: A central debate at the meeting was whether the committee should specify which positions to eliminate or set the FTE target and allow administration to design consolidated job descriptions and post new positions. Several members favored a middle path: the committee would authorize the numeric reduction and administration — seen as subject‑matter experts — would implement the staffing combinations and post any new roles for hiring, with the committee retaining final oversight of budget and policy.
Student‑services tradeoffs: One committee member suggested cutting a high‑school counselor to save roughly $75–80k, but teachers, parents and other members strongly objected, citing work done to build student‑services programs after prior grant funding ended. Speakers warned repeated cuts to counseling and student‑support roles could materially affect student wellbeing.
What’s next: Administration asked for runway to work with department heads on implementation details after the committee sets the budget target. Committee members asked for corrected FTE accounting and for administration to return with clearer options that minimize harm to students.
No final budget vote was taken March 4; the committee said it would continue deliberations, and several members signaled they would press for more detail before approving any scenario that eliminates middle‑school teams or student‑support roles.
