Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Glocester schools cut teachers and part-time specialists to meet budget; residents warn of service impacts
Summary
Superintendent Renee Perazzo and school staff said several full-time and part-time teaching positions were cut or laid off to meet the approved budget; residents and school committee members warned those reductions risked student supports and safety.
School leaders told the audience the district reduced staff to meet the voters-approved budget. Perazzo said the district cut multiple positions to adhere to the approved local appropriation, including four teachers laid off (one on leave and three recalled) and several part-time roles such as part-time music and health teachers and the reading specialist.
Public commenters and school committee members urged caution about further cuts and highlighted student safety and support concerns. "I just wanna note... we are talking about the education of our students but we are also talking about the safety and well-being of them as well," Amy Ferrera (speaker 8) said during public comment and urged exploring advocacy and revenue options to avoid understaffing.
The superintendent and auditor general both recommended focusing on multi-year planning and better financial transparency to avoid reactionary cuts that could harm instruction and services.
