Easthampton Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Balch breaks down the two budget scenarios the district faces depending on the results of the upcoming June 9 special election override vote.
Photo credit: Easthampton Media
EASTHAMPTON — Superintendent Michelle Balch presented the School Committee with two scenarios the district faces pending the results of the upcoming $6.9 million Proposition 2½ override vote on June 9.
Balch, who made the presentation during the committee’s May 12 meeting, noted that if the override were to fail, it could cost approximately 40 Easthampton Public School teachers and paraeducators their jobs.
“Oftentimes in education, we talk about data and accountability, and we talk about things and say behind every number is a student, and as we head into tonight’s budget conversation, I am very well aware that when we’re talking about numbers, behind those numbers are students, staff, their lives. They’re who we are as a community, and I know that, so when we read off numbers, and we read off the line items, I need everybody to know that we are all thinking about the people behind those numbers and the implications,” said Balch.
The School Committee approved a level-service school budget of $24.9 million in March. During the May 12 discussion, Balch broke down the two scenarios tied to the result of the override vote. The district would still be looking at cuts of about $922,000 if the override passes. If it fails, however, those cuts would triple, and $2.77 million would need to be removed.
Balch shared that personnel is the biggest bucket, and if the override vote fails, then $2.5 million would be cut in personnel expenses. She said that with enrollment numbers, including special education students who are still shifting, the specific number of educators that need to be cut is still unconfirmed at this point under both scenarios.
“We have to plan and prepare for both scenarios,” said Balch. “Whether the override passes or not, we still will touch staffing regardless, because we just don’t have any other numbers. We are trimming everywhere possible. We are making cuts anywhere and everywhere possible before they hit the classroom, but there’s just not a lot to cut.”
School Committee Chair Laura Scott said that the Budget Task Force assembled under the direction of Mayor Salem Derby opted not to ask taxpayers for the full amount. Instead, the task force is asking for a $6.9 million override, the minimum that best protects level service across all city departments. Cuts would then come on a drastic level for many departments if the override fails, including slashes to staff, programs and extracurriculars.
The School Committee is set to meet again on May 26 to discuss more specific details regarding numbers, programs, stipends and all other things that will be on the table in the event of an unsuccessful override vote.
Scott explained that the committee and district have already cut as much as they can to keep their initially approved budget at level-services, and they explored all options to avoid reductions in staff and for legally required services.
“Literally anything we can cut that saves a salary or saves a position or saves an academic program has been cut. When we get to $2.77 million [if the override is to fail], we have no other choice, now we’re talking people, now we’re talking personnel,” said Scott. “I just want the public to understand, literally every pen and pencil and subscription, everything has been reviewed.”
Balch said the district must have plans in place if the override is to fail. She shared three different options that described ways the administration could potentially cut staff.
By the meeting’s end, it was clear that Balch and the district will pursue Option A, which she called the most “legally and contractually” clear to those tied to the override vote. This option will notify educators who do not qualify for professional teaching status that their contract will not be renewed next year. Professional teaching status is a state qualification for educators who have worked for at least three consecutive years in the district. Balch shared that there are about 40 educators in the district without this status.
The notification was set to be sent on May 15, and if the override is to pass, Balch said many of these teachers who can be retained would then be notified of “reasonable assurance” that their contract will be renewed. A reasonable assurance letter is a formal notice from a school indicating that a teacher or school employee is expected to return to work in the same or similar capacity for the next academic term, affecting eligibility for unemployment benefits during breaks.
“That’s not going to answer all of our problems. It is a start. It will give us a little bit of time, and we need time. I can tell you I know I need time,” said Balch of Option A.
Option B would include a blended approach that features a mix of notifying educators of non-renewal and a reduction in force based on need and required programming. Option C would involve implementing a traditional seniority-based reduction-in-force base.
Balch said that the district was in “unprecedented times” and that while this situation was not ideal for anyone, the passing of the override would lead to much less damage comparatively than if it fails.
School Committee members overwhelmingly agreed with Balch taking the approach of Option A and reiterated to the public that this was not an ideal spot to be in, but with the two options tied to the result of the override, there is a better path forward.
“Our teachers are our most valuable asset, we all agree with that. This is an unfathomable decision that we are looking at,” said School Committee member Linda Markee. “I feel that is the best option right now, and again, none of these are options that are easy for any of us who truly care about public education in Easthampton.”
Derby, who also serves on the School Committee as the chair, added that as a former teacher for 25 years, he understands what it’s like to be laid off over district budgeting. He said that this process has been difficult.
“There is a lot of blame to go around … I can empathize deeply with the experience that people are going through now. For me, option A seems like it’s the cleanest, but none of these options are acceptable,” he said. “I’m working 12-15-hour days every day on, how do I figure out how to minimize the impact of this, regardless of the outcome, of what we’re doing and finding ways to bring revenue and advocate for the city, and again mitigate the damage that not dealing with this sooner has kind of created.”
Member Sam Hunter said that even though there is less of a burden between the two options, the committee was not happy to be faced with any cuts, and the public should know that the passing of the override is a solid option to work out of the jam.
“I just want to make it really clear because I’ve heard some conversation in various places, ‘Why aren’t you offering a middle option?’ This is the middle option. Offering a middle option in other communities did not work. This is the middle option; this is the compromise. We’re cutting $900,00 from a [level service] budget,” said Hunter.
Before the discussion, public comment was dominated by Easthampton Public School staff and students, as well as a couple of members of the public, who voiced their support for the override. Many spoke about how its failure would create instability in the schools. Walter Baker, student representative for the School Committee and president of the Easthampton High School Student Council, talked about the gravity of cutting programs, electives, clubs, sports, arts and other extracurriculars.
“While those things may be labeled as ‘nonessential,’ I can tell you that as a student, they’re absolutely essential to the experience that students have in our schools,” said Baker.
Resident Alice Barber, who has been a psychotherapist for children for 30 years, spoke about how the override’s failure would impact the everyday life of students.
“I know two things for certain: one, that children who have experienced such things [trauma] heal in community, not by themselves, and two, that public schools for all of their shortcomings save lives by being that community,” Barber added.
Jason Omar Rodriguez, a paraeducator at Easthampton High School, added, “The right to a quality education is not a privilege; it is a universal principle. Therefore, I’m asking everyone who is listening to vote yes for the override for the sake of our students, for the sake of those who are going to come afterwards. We have a wonderful opportunity to give these students a chance to have a quality education, and I want to see it continue.”
The special election to vote on the override will come on June 9, and the City Council is planning to vote on a final budget following those results at its June 17 meeting.
