School committee weighs cuts that would eliminate French, band and JV sports; forms fee-study subcommittee

Grafton — The Grafton School Committee spent the largest portion of its April 28 meeting debating proposed staffing reductions and fee options to help close a budget shortfall. Superintendent Dr. Cummings presented a reduction plan that would eliminate or reduce about 12.5 full‑time equivalent positions across the district and proposed options including athletic and transportation fees to recapture revenue.

Dr. Cummings listed target reductions across levels: two district‑level positions (eliminating an AI integration/digital learning specialist and leaving a curriculum coordinator unfilled), elimination of middle‑school sports and four JV high‑school teams (stipends and transportation), 3.5 high‑school positions (math, French — which would eliminate the French program — food/consumer science, and a half‑time guidance role), reductions of two middle‑school Spanish teachers (cutting world language offerings by roughly 50% at that level), and elementary cuts including elimination of band at two schools and three elementary teacher positions that would increase class sizes in grades 4–6. In summary, Dr. Cummings said the plan represented 12.5 positions affected; with attrition and retirements the net immediate layoffs could be smaller, but program losses would be real.

Committee members questioned revenue alternatives and legal limits. The group discussed a $100 athletics fee estimated in Dr. Cummings’s slides to bring in roughly $70,000 (model-dependent) and noted that doubling the fee would increase revenue proportionally but that enrollment and participation effects are uncertain. Financial line items cited included $183,990.83 budgeted for athletic transportation at the high school and a total athletics/activities transportation budget of $187,736.45. Members warned that fees can be regressive and that imposing fees risks lowering participation; one member summarized the tension as wanting "your cake and eat it, too," arguing the district cannot indefinitely sustain current program levels without revenue or cuts.

Contractual constraints were also emphasized. A committee member pointed to Appendix B of the teachers’ contract and said stipends are negotiated and cannot be unilaterally changed; raising stipends to match a pay‑to‑play environment would require reopening negotiations or creating an MOA with the union.

Action taken: the committee unanimously approved formation of an exploratory fee subcommittee to study transportation and activity/athletic fee models and impacts, with committee members Christy and Stella volunteering and Kristy also joining. The motion directed the subcommittee to analyze different fee structures, the number and cost of bus trips by activity, equity implications, and likely revenue under multiple participation scenarios before the superintendent submits any formal recommendation. (Motion details: motion made and seconded; outcome: approved by voice vote; transcript does not record a named mover/second.)

What remains unresolved: the committee did not adopt any new fees at the meeting and asked for more granular analysis; members repeatedly cautioned that revenue estimates are theoretical and depend on participation rates and that any stipend changes would require bargaining. The exploratory subcommittee was tasked to return findings to the full committee before final decisions are made.

Next steps: analysis by the subcommittee, additional review of Q3 financial reconciliations (a member requested spreadsheets to inspect non‑salary offsets), and continued discussion of which specific programs could be preserved if fees or other revenues are adopted.