Concord School Board hears widespread testimony urging preservation of arts and 2nd Start as budget cuts loom

The Concord School District Board of Education on March 11 heard more than an hour of public testimony urging the board to preserve arts programming and the 2nd Start alternative high school as it finalizes a posted budget that administrators said trims an earlier proposal.

Superintendent (name not provided) told the board the original budget presented in February totaled $126,006,470.94 and that a March 9 posted proposal reduced that figure to $115,045,527.97. The superintendent said the reductions followed multiple work sessions and reflect declining state and federal revenue streams, including a reported $3,425,000 decrease in the district’s state equitable grant and a $316,000 drop in federal grant revenue. Board members were told the district is considering reductions that could equal the cost of about 37 full‑time positions.

Why it matters: The posted changes still leave a substantial local tax impact and choices about staffing and programs. Members of the public said cutting specialized staff, arts and the 2nd Start program would harm students who rely on those services and could undermine long‑term student success.

Public testimony centered on two themes. First, multiple speakers described 2nd Start as a life‑changing program for students who struggle in traditional settings. Jackie Waring, program director at 2nd Start, clarified how the district’s MOU treats “slots” versus students and said current projections equal roughly 18 students and about 28 slots for next year; she urged the board to consult program staff for accurate enrollment and cost figures. “If we pay for what we have projected to go there, we’d have a savings of $66,672,” Waring said, describing the district’s contractual payment structure and discount for pre‑purchased slots.

Alumni and staff offered personal testimony. Dylan Smith, a 2016 2nd Start graduate, said the program provided the confidence and supports he needed to graduate and succeed in college and work. Elliot Owens, a special education teacher, warned that moving students back to traditional buildings could reverse social and academic progress: “Putting students in a building they associate with stress and trauma will only serve to make them feel like an other,” he said.

Second, dozens of parents and students urged the board to retain arts and music programs. Gabrielle Owens, a Concord High senior who has taken AP art and multiple studio courses, described AP art as a “safe communal space” that influenced her decision to pursue art education and to serve as a student teacher. Several parents and students said AP art and AP music theory prepare students for college and careers and that cutting those offerings would remove critical academic and social opportunities.

Some taxpayers urged fiscal restraint. Jeff Wells (Ward 5) asked administrators to simplify the budget presentation for taxpayers and suggested the board consider trimming components of the middle‑school project to reduce future tax pressure. Other speakers questioned the size of the district’s reserves and asked whether restricted trust funds could be used to blunt near‑term tax impacts; a board member replied that trust funds are restricted for specified purposes and are not an unrestricted rainy‑day fund.

Clarifying details provided at the hearing included the superintendent’s statement that the district’s general fund operational budget is $123,824,092 (with $115,045,573 cited as the portion that would impact the local tax rate), that the posted March 9 proposal anticipates about $1.7 million in carryover from unspent funds, and that the MOU with 2nd Start budgets 38 slots at a total of $835,000. The superintendent said the board will hold a final vote on the budget next week.

Board response and next steps: Board members thanked speakers and emphasized the difficulty of balancing taxpayer impact and program preservation. One board member reiterated that trust funds are restricted and not available for general salary support. The board closed the public hearing, took a voice vote to adjourn, and said it will consider the budget and vote next week.