The Mayor of Manchester, Andrew Ruais, has proposed a budget that includes cuts to the school district despite receiving an increase in funding in previous years. The school district, which includes nearly 12,000 students, had requested $246 million but Ruais’s proposal only allocates $2 million more than last year. This has sparked concerns from the Vice Chair of the Manchester Board of School Committee, James O’Connell, who believes the cuts will impact students and services, potentially resulting in layoffs and larger class sizes.
O’Connell expressed worry about the impact on vulnerable students, including those dealing with homelessness or the opioid crisis, if essential services like social workers are eliminated. The school district is now considering consolidating high schools to save costs, and Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Chmiel is working to find ways to meet the new funding target without detrimentally affecting students.
Despite these challenges, Ruais defended his budget, stating that it was necessary to balance the city’s finances and bring city workers up to a market rate. The budget is still in the process of being finalized, with upcoming public hearings and opportunities for changes. The Board of School Committee will present options for meeting the budget in an April meeting, as the school district navigates the impact of the proposed cuts.
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