SOUTHAMPTON — In the wake of painful budget cuts at William E. Norris Elementary School, the Norris PTO has launched a powerful community effort to close the growing gaps in resources and support.
Dubbed Back the Budget, the initiative reflects the concern, creativity and determination of parents, staff and supporters to provide a stable and enriching experience for students as the school year begins.
“As PTO chair, but more importantly as a parent, the biggest concern I heard — and felt myself — was the impact on our children,” said Amy Babikyan, Norris PTO chair. “It wasn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it was about the teachers who inspire them, the programs that help them grow and the resources that keep them safe and supported. For me, it came down to this: every line in that budget represented something vital for our kids. The thought of losing any of it felt like letting them down, and that’s a weight no parent wants to carry.”
The initiative was born from an immediate need. Families wanted to help, but there was no coordinated platform to channel that energy into something impactful. “Our fear was we would receive a year’s worth of markers and pencils, which would have been amazing, but that doesn’t help address the other needs and requests we’ll receive throughout the year,” Babikyan said.
Back the Budget accepts both monetary donations and supplies, though the PTO emphasizes the importance of funds to meet a broad range of needs. There are links to the various teachers wishlists, but our logic when the PTO got together to put this fundraiser together was that with money we can help purchase those necessary items, we can purchase subscriptions, and supplies as needed, we were trying to account of all of the things that don’t come from Amazon,” explained Babikyan. The campaign currently has no set end date and is expected to continue into the start of the school year.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. The budget that passed included severe cuts: the loss of two classroom teachers and the art teacher, the removal of math intervention support and reduced hours for key staff, including the school nurse and reading interventionist. Class sizes in kindergarten and first grade are expected to rise by seven to eight students, while paraprofessional losses and the lack of a teacher supply budget further strain the system.
“Even basic needs, like teacher supplies, are impacted, as there is no longer a budget for items like pencils, crayons, and folders, leaving teachers and families to fill the gap,” Babikyan said.
In response, the PTO has recalibrated its expectations. Last year, fundraising brought in $27,774, with nearly all of it going back to fulfill teacher requests, reduce field trip costs, and support community events. “This year, we’re aiming higher,” Babikyan said.
Community involvement has already proven vital. A local child hosted a lemonade stand to raise funds, while area businesses have pledged donation percentages and challenged others to join.
“The Senior Center is collecting supplies, and the First Congregational Church selected our fundraiser as the focus of their September community dinner,” Babikyan shared. “It has been overwhelmingly emotional to see our community come together in support of Norris.”
PTO meetings, hosted monthly in the school library, remain open to all families, offering a chance to discuss teacher requests and brainstorm new ways to help. “It’s all about working together to make sure this budget has the greatest possible impact for our students and teachers,” Babikyan said.
“We just want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported this effort,” added Babikyan. “Every single dollar makes a meaningful difference for our school and our children. While we know we can’t fix everything, this added boost gives us hope that our students will have the best possible school year — one filled with opportunities, growth, and the normalcy they deserve. It’s a reminder of what we can achieve when we come together as a community, and for that, we are truly grateful. Thank you for believing in our kids and their future.”
