Meeting report · School Committee
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School Committee — March 18, 2026
The meeting was marked by high tension due to a large volume of highly critical public testimony (22 speakers) regarding staff cuts and the lack of direct response from the board to those concerns.
Public impact
Issues from this meeting with documented community impact.
01
FY2027 BPS Budget Cuts
Reduction in student-facing staff and support services due to declining enrollment and rising operational costs. Affected: Students, teachers, paraprofessionals, and specialized educators (ABA, bilingual, arts) across the district.
budget cut
02
JFK Elementary Playground Damage
Unsafe playground conditions caused by a city-initiated geothermal drilling project. Affected: Students and families at JFK Elementary School.
safety change
Decisions logged
Every recorded vote, with timestamps and dissents.
Adjournment of the budget hearing.
A motion to adjourn was made, seconded, and passed via roll call vote with all members present voting 'Yes'.
Passed (Unanimous)
Topics discussed
Click a topic to expand quotes and full context.
▶ 04:04 Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Overview
Superintendent Skipper and CFO Bloom presented the final $1.7 billion budget proposal for FY27, detailing adjustments made due to declining enrollment and rising costs.
Speakers: Chairperson Geri Robinson, Superintendent Skipper, CFO David Bloom, Deputy CFO Blair Dawkins, Budget Director Serena LaRock
▶ 07:30 Budget Adjustments and Transition Funding
Discussion regarding specific budget changes, including a $2 million increase for bus monitors, $4 million moved to school budgets for teacher/paraprofessional support, and transition funds for schools undergoing facilities or enrollment changes.
Speakers: Superintendent Skipper, CFO David Bloom
▶ 30:40 Public Comment: Impact of Staff Reductions
Various stakeholders, including the Boston Teachers Union and parents, expressed concerns regarding the impact of cutting teacher, aide, and specialist positions on student outcomes.
Speakers: Eric Berg, Paulina Papayanis, Chris Lee Rodriguez, Michelle Mualem, Timothy Nagaoka
▶ 32:24 Public Comment: Bilingualism and Parent Mentorship
Parents and mentors advocated for the protection of bilingual programs and the St. Stephen's Parent Mentor program, emphasizing their role in community engagement.
Speakers: Annabel Tavares de Peña, Jessica Oyer, Kaira Amador, Denise Caraballo
▶ 79:01 Public Comment: Budget Cuts and Student Support
Multiple community members, parents, and educators expressed concern regarding proposed budget cuts, specifically targeting paraprofessionals, multilingual teachers, counselors, and mental health staff.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Josie Clairvaux, Valerie Carlson, Juan Paulo Ferreira, Jimmy Colon, Krista Magnusson, Edith Bazil
▶ 96:00 JFK Elementary School Facilities Issue
A parent reported property damage and unsafe playground conditions at JFK Elementary caused by a city-initiated geothermal drilling project involving Honeywell.
Speakers: Shelton Oakley-Hersey
▶ 103:00 Committee Inquiry: Budget Impact and Data Metrics
School Committee members questioned district leadership on how budget decisions are being measured, how schools are supported through transitions, and how student outcomes are tracked despite cuts.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 151:00 Inquiry Regarding ABA Staffing and Workload
Discussion regarding the role of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) student specialists, reports of increased caseloads, concerns about workload increases and potential burnout following staff reductions, and the district's plan to monitor staff workload and align staffing to students' needs.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker, Christine Trevisoni
▶ 157:42 Staff Reductions and Educator Retention
Clarification on the difference between 'accessing' staff and layoffs, and the district's process for helping excess educators find comparable positions within the district, including impacts on educators of color.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 169:00 Budget Priorities and Investment Areas
Committee members and administration discussed areas for potential reinvestment if funding becomes available, including literacy, social-emotional support, and multilingual programs.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 174:06 School Budget Transparency
Discussion on improving budget documentation for individual schools to better understand specific program cuts and staffing levels.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 208:00 Budget Approval Process and City Council Role
Explanation of the legal timeline for School Committee budget votes and the relationship between the School Committee, the Mayor, and the City Council.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 220:44 Committee Participation in City Council Budget Hearings
A committee member inquired whether they could attend City Council budget hearings to advocate for additional school funding without creating a conflict of interest or misrepresenting the full committee's position.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
▶ 225:45 Budget Vote Schedule and Information
The Chair provided reminders regarding the upcoming vote on the Superintendent's fiscal year 2027 budget proposal and how to access budget documents.
Speakers: Unidentified speaker
Controversy & dissent
Where the board, the community, or the agenda diverged.
Potentially controversial issues
01
FY2027 Budget and Staff Reductions
The budget involves significant cuts to student-facing positions including teachers, paraprofessionals, counselors, and multilingual specialists. This pits district fiscal reality (declining enrollment/rising costs) against community demands for service preservation.
Board position: The board received the proposal and moved toward a vote, focusing on how to track metrics and improve transparency rather than rejecting the cuts outright.
high concern
02
Impact of Staff Reductions on Diversity
There is specific concern regarding how seniority-based layoffs (accessing staff) will disproportionately affect educators of color.
Board position: The board acknowledged the obligation to find comparable positions for educators but faced scrutiny over the long-term impact on diversity.
medium concern
Community vs. board tension
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Action items
Who owes what, by when.
Vote on the approval of the fiscal year 27 budget proposal.
Assigned: School Committee · Due: 2026-03-25
Provide a formal superintendent's report.
Assigned: Superintendent Skipper · Due: 2026-03-25
Finalize non-personnel spending plans in collaboration with school communities.
Assigned: BPS Schools · Due: May 2026
Begin issuing purchase orders for confirmed programming partners.
Assigned: BPS Schools · Due: May 2026
Provide a list of schools affected by food service position reductions.
Assigned: Chief Bloom / District Staff
Provide examples of school plans (QSIPs) and performance metrics to Committee members.
Assigned: District Leadership
Provide a revised version of school-level budget documents (one-pagers) to the committee to show more specific detail on cuts and program areas.
Assigned: Chief Bloom (a speaker) · Due: Before the next budget season/as soon as possible
Verify if the City Council has the authority to move money between specific line items to increase the BPS budget.
Assigned: District Administration/Chief Bloom
Determine if School Committee members can attend City Council budget hearings to advocate for funding as individuals without creating a conflict of interest.
Assigned: School Committee Chair/Parliamentarian
Check with the parliamentarian to confirm if attending City Council meetings as an individual member constitutes a conflict of interest.
Assigned: School Committee Leadership/Parliamentarian
Notable statements
This is a challenging budget year... rising cost of health insurance, transportation, increased special education services, and our collective bargaining agreements and obligations coupled with declining enrollment have made it necessary for us to make difficult financial decisions. — Superintendent Skipper · Explaining the necessity of budget cuts and staff reductions. ▶ 05:06
Boston public schools cannot do more with less. It's time for the school committee to send a clear message that our students need additional resources from the city. — Eric Berg · Speaking as President of the Boston Teachers Union during public comment. ▶ 30:47
I don't think you should pass the budget without having explicit [SMART] goals. You could make a commitment to establish such goals with the superintendent after the budget passes. — John Mudd · Advocating for accountability and measurable student outcomes in the budget. ▶ 56:06
I urge you to reconsider the budget plan for fiscal year 2027 by adding $48 million more to the school committee's budget. — Juan Paulo Ferreira · Testifying on the negative impacts of proposed cuts at Charlestown High School. ▶ 90:30
Boston is much better positioned than many other districts to weather this particular storm... It would take only a 1% budget increase to avoid making these staff cuts. — Krista Magnusson · Arguing that the city has the reserves to avoid cutting student-facing staff. ▶ 94:55
The adjustment to the number of the ABA student specialist was made as part of a broader effort to align staffing to students' needs and service delivery, rather than historical allocations. — Christine Trevisoni · Clarifying the reasoning behind changes to ABA specialist workloads. ▶ 152:00
When a teacher is accessed from the district, what that means is that you're a permanent educator that the district has an obligation to find a job for. — Unidentified speaker · Explaining the district's obligation to staff facing position reductions. ▶ 160:25
Permanent educators have tenure over provisionals... we are very mindful of [the fact that] educators of color are the last one to come in and the first ones to go out. — Unidentified speaker · Addressing the impact of seniority-based layoffs on diversity. ▶ 165:31
If the school committee were to vote no or abstain... the superintendent's original proposal by law is the document that goes forth [to the Mayor and City Council]. — Unidentified speaker · Explaining the legal consequences of a failed budget vote next week. ▶ 208:00
I'm of the opinion that they [City Council] do have that authority [to move money between departments] given their budget plenary authority. — Unidentified speaker · Discussing the City Council's ability to reallocate funds to the school budget. ▶ 221:10
As long as you're going as an individual to express your personal things... we all sit here as seven individuals and when we vote next week we will vote as seven individuals. — Unidentified speaker · Responding to the inquiry about individual member participation in City Council meetings. ▶ 225:54
Public comment
What residents said — verbatim, with timestamps.
22
Total speakers
0
Addressed
0
Partial
22
Not addressed
Eric Berg
Not addressed
As President of the Boston Teachers Union, he urged the committee to prioritize student-facing positions and protect existing services. He argued that the district cannot do more with less and should ask the city for additional funding to prevent moving backward.
Key concern
Protecting student-facing staff and requesting more city funding to maintain service levels.
Board responseThe board did not respond directly to his speech during the public comment section, but the Superintendent's earlier report addressed the general context of budget challenges and staffing reductions.
While the Superintendent's opening remarks discussed budget challenges and staffing, there was no specific response to Mr. Berg's direct plea for more funding during or immediately after his comment.
Annabel Tavares de Peña
Not addressed
A parent mentor and college student, she spoke about the importance of bilingualism for identity and inclusion. She emphasized the need for bilingual staff so parents do not feel excluded and urged support for programs like St. Stephen's.
Key concern
The necessity of bilingual staffing and supporting parent mentor programs.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
Jessica Oyer
Not addressed
A parent mentor from Dorchester, she highlighted the value of bilingual education in the classroom. She noted that bilingualism opens opportunities for students and strengthens family engagement with the school.
Key concern
Continued support for bilingual programs and the St. Stephen's parent mentor program.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
Kaira Amador
Not addressed
A parent mentor and future educator, she spoke about the role of parent mentors as a bridge between families and schools. She emphasized that recognizing a child's home language builds confidence and emotional security.
Key concern
Investing in bilingual programming and parent mentor relationships.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
Natalie Dimate
Not addressed
A mother of three, she spoke about the struggles of her daughter learning English and the need for academic support in math and reading. She requested equitable budgets that address the specific needs of diverse communities.
Key concern
Need for academic support (math/reading) and equitable school budgeting.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
Denise Caraballo
Not addressed
A parent and paraprofessional, she shared how the St. Stephen's program helped her become a professional. She requested more bilingual schools and continued funding for parent mentor programs to strengthen the community.
Key concern
Funding for parent mentor programs and expansion of bilingual schools.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
John Mudd
Not addressed
An education advocate, he suggested that the budget should include explicit SMART goals for student achievement and subgroup outcomes. He also advised the district to provide guidelines to preserve racial and linguistic diversity when implementing staff cuts.
Key concern
Requirement for explicit achievement goals and protecting diversity during staff reductions.
The board did not respond to him during the public comment period.
Paulina Papayanis
Not addressed
A history teacher at O'Brien, she expressed fear that budget cuts would destroy the quality of instruction and student relationships. She noted that her school is losing vital student affairs coordinators and content area teachers despite stable enrollment.
Key concern
Impact of staffing cuts on instructional quality and student support.
The board did not respond to her during public comment, though a committee member later asked a question regarding the O'Brien transition funding.
Chris Lee Rodriguez
Not addressed
A music educator and union rep, he spoke against cuts to arts programs and social-emotional learning roles. He argued that arts access is essential for a complete education and urged the committee to request a 1% city budget increase.
Key concern
Protecting arts programs and social-emotional learning positions.
The board did not respond to his specific comments.
Michelle Mualem
Not addressed
A parent at BTU Pilot School, she expressed disappointment over the lack of playground renovation funding and the loss of the school librarian. She emphasized the librarian's essential role in literacy and representing diverse identities.
Key concern
Restoring the school librarian position and funding playground improvements.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
Timothy Nagaoka
Not addressed
An itinerant Japanese teacher, he spoke about the impact of individual school budget cuts on specialty programs. He argued that cutting such programs is counter to the goal of providing diverse and high-quality learning opportunities.
Key concern
Protection of specialty programs (like Japanese) and itinerant teacher positions.
The board did not respond to his specific comments.
Andre Brown
Not addressed
A resident and founder of Boston Youth AI, he advocated for the integration of AI and robotics in the community. He requested support for weekend or after-school projects to help students learn about drones and robotics.
Key concern
Providing AI and robotics educational opportunities for students.
The board did not respond to his specific comments.
Ilnée Baptiste
Not addressed
A parent mentor, she spoke about the need to invest in schools to ensure children can succeed. She expressed concern that budget cuts affect resources, teachers, and the transportation necessary for student success.
Key concern
General concern regarding budget cuts affecting student resources.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
David Jean-Baptiste
Not addressed
A parent mentor, he urged stakeholders to invest in stable and equitable funds for all projects. He requested increased commitment to social-emotional support and regular access to counselors and social workers.
Key concern
Stability of resources and increased mental health/social worker support.
The board did not respond to his specific comments.
Josie Clairvaux
Not addressed
A parent of a child with special needs, she spoke about how the parent mentor program helped her develop professionally. She expressed worry that cutting paraprofessional positions threatens both family incomes and student support.
Key concern
Protection of paraprofessional positions.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
Valerie Carlson
Not addressed
A veteran teacher, she argued that budget cuts immediately increase class sizes and shrink student supports. She called for prioritizing student-facing roles over non-student-facing roles and demanded transparency in how cuts are decided.
Key concern
Prioritizing classroom/student-facing staff and transparency in budget decision-making.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
Juan Paulo Ferreira
Not addressed
A teacher at Charlestown High, he criticized cuts to multilingual teachers and the elimination of co-teaching models. He argued that the district should propose more funding to maintain high-quality, inclusive student experiences.
Key concern
Protecting multilingual teachers and co-teaching models; requesting more funding.
The board did not respond to his specific comments.
Jimmy Colon
Not addressed
A parent and mentor, he expressed deep concern about cuts to teachers, paraprofessionals, and mental health staff. He emphasized that bilingual education and culturally responsive classrooms are essential for equity.
Key concern
Protecting support staff and investing in bilingual/culturally responsive education.
The board did not respond to his specific comments.
Krista Magnusson
Not addressed
An organizer, she argued that Boston has the capacity to avoid staff cuts through a small 1% increase in the city budget. She criticized the School Committee for acting as a 'rubber stamp' and urged them to push back against cuts.
Key concern
Pushing for a 1% city budget increase to avoid cuts to essential staff.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
Shelton Oakley-Hersey
Not addressed
A parent and family council leader, he advocated for the JFK Elementary School regarding a failed geothermal drilling project. He requested that the committee hold the city and Honeywell accountable for repairing damaged playgrounds.
Key concern
Holding the city and Honeywell accountable for playground damages at JFK Elementary.
The board did not respond to his specific comments.
Edith Bazil
Not addressed
She noted that many Black and brown students are not reading proficiently and criticized the budget for prioritizing outsourcing over in-district inclusion. She questioned if BPS will comply with legal obligations regarding the Morgan decree.
Key concern
Addressing the literacy emergency and prioritizing in-district inclusion over outsourcing.
The board did not respond to her specific comments.
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