Southampton is being asked to approve a Proposition 2½ override of $897,069 to maintain essential educational services at William E. Norris School. As both Vice Chair of the Select Board and Chair of the School Committee, I want to make clear: this request is not about expanding programs or adding new services. It’s about preserving what we already have—teachers, interventionists, music, art, library, and special education services that serve every child.
Unfortunately, too many people view an override as a sign of failure. That’s not the case.
Proposition 2½ was designed with community empowerment in mind. It limits tax increases, yes, but it also gives voters the ability to say, “In this case, we choose to do more.” Overrides are not a loophole; they are a tool of local democracy. They ensure residents—not state mandates or funding gaps—decide how we fund our most important services.
The current need is driven by four unavoidable factors:
- $311,706 in contractual obligations for teachers and staff
- $284,258 in mandated special education increases
- $119,847 in central office shared costs
- $167,959 in lost funding from the federal REAP grant and reduced Circuit Breaker reimbursements
If we do not pass the override, Norris will face the loss of 10 full-time positions. That means larger class sizes, fewer support staff, and cuts to enrichment programs. These are not threats—they are the actual numbers and choices we’ll be forced to make.
This is a decision about values. Do we value our school enough to keep it strong, responsive, and whole? I believe we do.
Every child in Southampton benefits from Norris School. And every resident, whether or not you have children in the system, benefits from the strength of our schools through higher property values, a more desirable town, and a better quality of life.
Proposition 2½ doesn’t tie our hands—it hands us the key. The override is how we unlock the resources needed to fulfill our obligations and uphold our values.
This May, I will be voting “yes” on the override. I encourage my fellow residents to do the same—not because we want more, but because we can’t afford to lose what we already have.
Jon Lumbra
vice chair of the Select Board
chair of the School Committee, Southampton
