Methuen academics say 80 educators might be laid off as a consequence of proposed funds

Methuen academics turned out at a Metropolis Council assembly Monday night time, saying the mayor’s proposed cuts to the educator workforce would imply a whole college’s price of educators could have been laid off inside two years.

The Methuen Schooling Affiliation stated the proposed Fiscal 12 months 2026 funds represents a seamless development of “steadily reduced” help for public schooling. The mayor’s workplace has pushed again on the declare, stating whereas academics could face layoffs the funds really features a $5.8 million year-over-year improve for schooling.

“120 positions cut in two years is an entire grammar school wiped out,” stated Kara Blatt, a Methuen particular schooling trainer and union co-president, citing the 40 layoffs final 12 months. “We must stop balancing budgets on the backs of Methuen’s children and their teachers.”

Colleges throughout Massachusetts have confronted funds crunches in recent times, hit by the lack of pandemic-era federal funding, enrollment declines and inflation.

The academics union said the cuts goal positions together with studying specialists, English Learner academics, and wellness employees and argued town has “more than $25 million in available resources this year.”

“While the School Department has warned that 43 teachers may face layoffs, it’s important to look at how existing resources are being spent,” the Mayor’s workplace stated, citing the “nearly $800,000 in IT personnel costs alone.”

Mayor David Beauregard’s assertion advised techniques to keep away from trainer layoff like “freezing contractual Unit A raises in FY26 to avoid layoffs and preserve as many classroom positions as possible,” in addition to producing income by means of steps like promoting unused school-owned buildings.

The academics contend that spending on schooling has dropped since earlier than the pandemic.

“In FY2019, Methuen spent $6 million above the state’s minimum required funding level,” the MEA stated. “By FY2024, that figure had dropped to just $1.6 million.”