Boston schools officials outline 400 staff cuts, priority investments in proposed budget

Boston Public Schools officials outlined their upcoming financial plan for schools Thursday evening, for the first time sharing specifics about the loss of over 400 positions in next year's budget and hearing comment from the public and school committee.

The staffing losses include 265 teaching positions and 161 paraprofessional positions. A little more than half are the result of school closures and grade reconfigurations in fewer than 10 schools, superintendent Mary Skipper told the school committee. 

To combat rising costs and enrollment decline, the $1.7 billion proposed budget will focus on two components for a new "formula" to determine each school's funding next year: compliance to district policies, bargaining contracts and state and federal laws, and flexible spending, allocated per student and differentiated by need.

"We're working really closely on what are the [financial restrictions] that we can make universally, and then what are the supports we provide to schools," said BPS chief financial officer David Bloom.

"Transition funding" will also be included to assist schools experiencing the greatest  funding loss, Bloom said. Alternatively, schools with increased funding may have money held back to ensure this temporary support, intended for one year.

Though the budget reflects a "felt impact" of $48 million for individual schools and staff funding, Skipper and her team said they have prioritized new investments in inclusive education, bilingual programming and alternative education. The budget guarantees professional support in all dual language classes in grades one and two and the continued rollout of dual language education programs, including a new program at the Lilla G. Frederick Middle School in the fall.

But members of the school committee and public questioned how that would be achieved, with the district planning to cut 110 bilingual staff next year. Bloom clarified that the reduction is partially because certain positions are being re-coded to more accurately reflect staffers' work. With this in mind, 77 positions are planned to be cut due to enrollment decline, specifically in multilingual learners, Bloom said.

“It's still a very hard pill to swallow that we are losing this specialized position when we should be funding and expanding our capacity for these dual language immersion programs,” said Franklin Peralta, a school committee member appointed this year.

Dora Sandoval, a mother of three who lives in Roxbury, said her oldest children were unable to attend bilingual schools despite years of trying to get them enrolled. Her youngest son is attending a bilingual Spanish and English program at the Curley K-8 School.

"I can truly tell the difference," she said during a public comment. " And for this to happen, I had to wait for 12 years."

The Melvin H. King South End Academy, a cohort of schools that serve high need students with disabilities, will see significant cuts  due to 77% enrollment decline over the past decade. The budget plans for 80 students and 67 staff members.

Saran Still, a paraeducator at one of the schools, said this would result in the elimination of 46% of the staff.

”When half of the staff is removed, you are not trimming a budget. You are destabilizing a community. You are removing trusted adults, consistent relationships, and the very infrastructure that allows our most vulnerable students to succeed," she said during the comment period.

Under the proposed budget, alternative education opportunities would expand, including a designated cohort of students with emotional impairments at two high schools. Boston Adult Technical Academy would expand to serve 16 and 17-year-olds, increasing access for multilingual students seeking a non-traditional school setting.

Skipper said the district is hoping to reassign and rehire affected staff in the schools that are closing.

" That means lots of conversation among principals in the regional networks," she said. "This is a year we want to look from within."

A meeting detailing budget plans for the BPS central office is scheduled for March 4. Amongst other things, summer programming will be discussed.