Schools

Failed Override Could Force Schools to Lay Off Teachers

According to Superintendent William McAlduff, a failed override could lead to 40 teachers losing their jobs over the next three years.

It’s been a little more than a month since the School Committee submitted itsto the town. At the time, said the budget “reflects our minimum needs” and has “no new programs.”

In the annual on March 29, residents will have to vote on a $1.44 million general override. According to McAlduff, if the override were to fail, the school department would have to start cutting some its programs and lay off teachers.  

For the upcoming year, the department’s budget will increase by 4.09 percent or $1,419,610 from the 2011 budget. But without an override, that amount will be approximately $400,000 less. However, according to McAlduff, it will be the second and third year of the three-year budget, where the department will be hurt the most.

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“The impact of a failed override for the school budget in Fiscal Year 2013 and 2014 would be dire,” McAlduff said. “Even with this current budget, it only is a 4.09 percent increase, and that’s a minimum-needs budget. It’s bare bones. There are no new initiatives. We maintain the status quo and even at that level, with a successful override, we’re barely treading water.”

According to McAlduff, the current budget is level-funded from 2011, except for the special education tuitions. And although enrollment is expected to increase by 94 students or 2.2 percent, the department is requesting to hire the fewest amount of new teachers it has in the last four years.

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“The impact of a failed override may not look so bad in FY ’12, but you have to look at the three-year plan,” McAlduff said. “Over the next three years a failed override would have a devastating impact on the school system.”

If an override fails, McAlduff said class size at would increase, as the school department would need to eliminate three positions for next year. The department also won’t be able to begin any new initiatives, while some high school courses would have to be cancelled. And the technology department would need to be cut by $60K in 2012.

“This is as bad as I’ve ever seen it,” said School Committee member, Christopher Linskey. “It’s going to be a challenge if we need to cut more programs.”

A failed override would potentially lead to a personnel cut of 3.5 teachers ($192K) in 2012; 13 teachers ($650K) in 2013; and 24 teachers ($1.2 million) in 2014. 

“If the override fails, I don’t know how I can cut another $200,000 out of the budget,” McAlduff said, referring to the potential 2012 gap. “And it would only increase from there in 2013 and ’14. It would just devastate the school department.”  


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