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Committee presses administration for numbers as $7 million shortfall, vacancies and layoff notices loom
Summary
At its May 12 meeting, the Pawtucket School Committee pressed Superintendent Buck for a precise count of vacancies and the personnel impact of a projected FY27 $7 million deficit; administration cited 11 current vacancies and 10 teacher‑assistant vacancies and said staffing cuts and central‑office reductions are planned, while the committee voted to continue action on 46 statutory layoff notices to May 26.
The Pawtucket School Committee spent much of its May 12 meeting pressing administration for exact figures on vacancies and layoffs after budget staff said the district faces roughly a $7 million shortfall for fiscal year 2027.
Superintendent Buck told members the May 1 vacancy list showed 11 open positions and 10 vacant teacher‑assistant posts and said the district is prioritizing “hard‑to‑fill” roles such as math, science and special‑education staff while keeping a hiring freeze elsewhere. “What I have here from May 1, we have 11 vacancies, and then we have 10 vacancies on the TAs,” Buck said. “That you're not planning to fill? No. That we currently have as vacant.”
Committee members demanded more clarity about how many positions the district will not fill and how layoffs, program realignments and other reductions together would close the projected gap. One committee member warned that cutting positions and not filling vacancies could increase class sizes and remove supports that families rely on. “We have to make proper decisions with information,” the member said, urging an itemized presentation on proposed cuts before the official budget hearing.
Administration provided an anticipated reductions list during the discussion that included assistant principals, central administrative roles and a mix of elementary and secondary teaching positions. Buck said the district is working within collective‑bargaining parameters for class size and would supply a more detailed, updated vacancy list this week.
Legal counsel explained the statutory step the administration was following for personnel notices, citing Rhode Island General Laws 16‑13‑3 and 16‑13‑4, which govern notice of dismissal and employees’ appeal rights. The committee debated whether to send statutory dismissal notices now or wait until the city’s budget decision is final and ultimately voted to continue the item: approval to send 46 statutory notices was carried to the May 26 meeting.
Committee members repeatedly pressed administration for a transparent breakdown of the projected savings from proposed personnel and non‑personnel cuts and asked for follow‑up documents. The superintendent and staff agreed to supply an updated vacancy list and a more detailed presentation on cuts and projected impacts at a future meeting.
Next steps: the committee requested a fuller, itemized presentation on proposed cuts and an updated vacancy list ahead of the May 26 meeting. The committee also asked that administration engage stakeholders — parents, principals, teachers and after‑school providers — before making schedule or staffing decisions that would affect families’ schedules or access to services.
