Cuts coming: Worcester schools face $22 million budget deficit
WORCESTER ― The Worcester Public Schools are facing a projected $22 million budget deficit, which represents about 4% of the approved budget, for the 2024-25 school year.
The deficit means reductions and adjustments will be necessary for schools at all grade levels, Superintendent Rachel Monárrez said at a School Committee meeting Thursday night.
"When we think about a budget, we know it is supposed to be a reflection of our priorities," Monárrez said. "We have a strategic plan and this is our first year in the implementation. We looked at how we can continue to do the work on the strategic plan and cut $22 million."
Monárrez said her team worked with all levels of teachers, principals and parents to determine the least impactful cuts the district could make.
"These were not easy conversations for them to have," Monárrez said. "But this was the first time they were actually asked this, and it gave us some great feedback."
Maintaining Advanced Placement classes and keeping deans at high schools were among the top requests, as well as maintaining class sizes of 20 students or less. Monárrez said the district cannot ensure all classes will be 20 students or less, but can ensure that the class size does not exceed 21 students on average throughout the district.
Where will the cuts come?
Monárrez said the reductions will include 45 elementary school and 41 high school teaching positions.
"We do not believe any of them will be any teachers that are on professional teaching status," Monárrez said. Teachers with more than three years of experience in the district have professional teaching status. There will be layoffs of teachers with less experience.
In light of this, Monárrez said the district has made room in the budget for "pocket positions," such as paraprofessionals and teaching aides, that allow for flexibility.
In addition to elementary and secondary classroom positions, which will account for 31% of the savings, the district anticipates the $22 million in reductions coming from administrative and support positions (13% of the projected savings, although they represent less than 2% of the total budget), other school-based instructional and support positions (28%) and department, programs and services systemwide (28%).
"The remainder of the programs are programs we dug really deep into and (asked) if they're having an impact. Do we have positive outcomes? Is this something principals said we can live without?" Monárrez said. "(As for departments, programs and services systemwide), this includes a revamp of some exclusionary programs we've had in the district over time that are just not being utilized."
Worcester Renaissance Project heads to finance
In other business, Worcester resident and community organizer Geoff Killebrew presented how the Worcester Renaissance Project impacts and benefits city youth.
"We're looking for participation from the superintendent's office in the Worcester Renaissance Projects by providing work permits for youth aged 14 and above to obtain hawkers and permanent licenses from the Police Department, enabling them to start businesses as street vendors and performers," Killebrew said.
Killebrew said this would be a good opportunity to introduce to students what it means to be a student street performer. He requested to have a more "collaborative" conversation with the School Committee at another time.
The committee sent the item to Finance, Operations and Governance because of the cost of staffing. Member Dianna Biancheria of District C said it is important to allow the city to look over the proposal as well. All members were supportive of the initiative.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Cuts coming: Worcester schools face $22 million budget deficit
