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Board grapples with FiPAC demand for additional $250,000 in cuts; staff reductions likely
Summary
Board members said an extra $250,000 in cuts requested by FiPAC would likely require more staff layoffs after prior reductions; administrators proposed furloughs, program cuts and line‑item reductions but said little remains to spare.
Superintendent Barbara Wilson told the Board that the district had already absorbed earlier reductions, including four staff layoffs, and that FiPAC’s continued demand makes further cuts difficult. "If FiPAC required the full $200,000, the next $125,000 would involve eliminating staff," Wilson said during the meeting.
Board members discussed a mix of measures to reach the target: reducing professional development, instituting a county‑style furlough day for staff (estimated savings ≈ $35,000), shifting technology costs and asking administrative staff for givebacks. Gina Jarvis presented a running list of potential reductions that together could approach the shortfall but acknowledged that staffing cuts are likely if the district must find an additional $250,000.
Members repeatedly warned that cutting more teachers and paraprofessionals would raise class sizes (first grade projected to increase to 18 students per classroom) and could harm student outcomes. Chair Michael Maziarz described the scale of the mandate and said the Board preferred to avoid cuts but may have no choice if the town requires additional reductions.
