February 2, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
Principals from the elementary, middle, and high schools joined Wednesday’s School Committee Budget Session V to share the “dire consequences” that potential cuts outlined in the proposed Hingham Public Schools balanced budget proposal would have on their students and staff unless an operating override is passed at the April Town Meeting and at the ballot box on April 29 during the Town Election.
The School Committee and Advisory Committee will meet in joint session Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. to discuss the HPS budget.
A School Committee public budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m., during which citizens will be able to ask questions and make comments.
A third meeting — joint among the School Committee, Advisory Committee, and Select Board — will be held Thursday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m.
Check the town website calendar for details of these meetings.
In addition, School Committee Chair Michelle Ayer and Vice Chair Nes Correnti will hold office hours on Monday, Feb 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Hingham High School in Room 103 for people to drop in and ask questions, make comments, or raise concerns.
The proposed cuts include the possible elimination of 60.6 Full Time Equivalent positions across the school district as well as student services, arts, athletics, and other academic programming — in order to close a multi-million-dollar budget gap.
The reduced-services budget presentation, which includes a full list of the impacts of the potential reductions on each of the town’s six schools, is posted on the Hingham Public Schools website.
Supt. of Schools Margaret Adams explained during the meeting that the town’s total budget shortfall is now approximately $6.2 million, down from an earlier $7.5 million deficit, as explained at Tuesday’s Select Board meeting. The deficit decrease relates to higher-than-expected motor vehicle excise tax and meals tax revenues, among other contributing factors.
That $6.2 million number could change, Ayer noted, but if it does, “it should be lower.”
The schools’ portion of the budget deficit is 65 percent, or approximately $4 million, down from the $4.8 million projected earlier, Adams said.
“However, we are required to consider unemployment costs for staff reductions, which is $26,000 per employee,” “Adams explained. “Until we receive further guidance from the town on how unemployment may be funded, we are estimating that if 50 percent of employees apply for unemployment, we would [need to] allocate an additional amount,” totaling $902,898 — which still brings the shortfall to $4.875 million unless/until that issue is resolved. This figure includes an estimated $72,000 in savings as a result of benefit reductions.
Adams noted that the town’s Fiscal 2022 and 2023 budget shortfalls were funded by one-time federal funds and unassigned fund balance (the town’s rainy-day fund), which is no longer an option.
South School Principal Mary Eastwood said “it’s heartbreaking thinking about cutting positions that are very important. All our staff are definitely valued. We have to hold onto the house that we have built.”
Middle School Principal Derek Smith said the potential loss of the inclusion facilitator, math interventionist, and guidance counselor would have major negative impacts, as would cutting the librarian, literary specialist, world language teacher, and other positions and eliminating after-school activities.
“A librarian doesn’t just check out books but also teaches classes and makes the place come alive for our students as well as being an asset for our teachers,” Smith explained.
Adams explained that cuts in after-school activities are proposed to avoid having to cut yet another staff position.
Instituting these cuts would mean “decades-worth of work would go away,” Smith said.
However, word of the decreased town revenue shortfall “gave me a glimmer of hope,” Ayer said. “We’re not in a position yet of adding things back into the proverbial shopping cart within the balanced budget, but it made me realize that this is a process. It’s a painful feeling for every family, staff member, student, and administrator, who will all be reeling if we don’t get this override passed.”
The good news, Ayer said, is that it doesn’t have to be that way. “We need to get this override passed, and we can do it.”
She further noted that the warrant article asking voters to approve funding for a new Foster School passed easily at this year’s Town Meeting and at the ballot box.
“I think everyone in town knows how important it is to fund our schools and town services,” Ayer said. “We’re fortunate to not have had an override for 14 years, and I think there’s cause for optimism. While preparing for the worst, we can work together to bring about the outcome that we want. Let’s get the override passed — that’s what we need to do.”
To read the Hingham Anchor story about proposed cuts on the municipal side in order to achieve a balanced budget, visit https://www.hinghamanchor.com/potential-cuts-in-staff-and-municipal-services-outlined-as-part-of-a-balanced-budget/