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Residents press board over school staffing and library cuts as finance panel trims budgets
Summary
Local parents, staff and volunteers urged the board to protect classroom positions, world language and library services as the board balanced competing pressures from insurance increases, special‑education outplacements and limited reserves.
Dozens of residents and school employees used the March 26 public comment period to plead with the Board of Finance to preserve staff and programs as FY27 budgets were trimmed.
Parents and PTA leaders warned that cuts to staff support, foreign language and athletic access would affect vulnerable students and create barriers for low‑income families. Carrie Rainville, a parent and PTA president, said eliminating staff support positions and introducing pay‑to‑play for middle‑school sports would remove foundational services: "These are not extras. These are essential parts of a well‑rounded education." (public comment, March 26).
Several speakers — including Katie Kra, who provided consolidated budget worksheets — argued that administrative and non‑student‑facing positions (two coach positions and top administration) cost significantly more per student than comparable districts and suggested reallocating some administrative funds to classroom teachers. Kra told the board her calculations showed literacy and math coaches plus non‑mandated administrative roles represented material dollars that could offset classroom cuts.
Board members acknowledged the difficulty of the year, noting seven special‑education outplacements and contract‑driven insurance increases. Laura Rodriguez, chair of the library board, said library funding has fluctuated and urged the board to avoid another reduction that would leave the library budget substantially below 2024‑25 levels. Steve Oer, the library’s representative, told the board that a permanent cut last year had forced the library to rely on one‑time savings and that deeper reductions would require reduced hours, fewer services and deferred maintenance.
The board and staff pushed back on some claims about individual salaries and emphasized that members were volunteers doing the best they could; Phil (school staff) clarified a salary figure that had been misstated in public comment. Members repeatedly separated discussion of structural budget changes (for example, school consolidation as a multi‑year capital strategy) from this year’s operating cuts.
Why it matters: Board decisions on staffing and library funding will directly affect services available to students and residents; the BOE and library directors said they need clarity on final appropriations quickly so they can plan staffing and program delivery.
