Weymouth to cut 26 school workers due to budget shortfall. What administrators are saying

WEYMOUTH – The district will cut 26 positions through layoffs, non-renewed contracts, retirements and leaving positions vacant due to a budget shortfall for next fiscal year that is larger than first anticipated.

Superintendent Robert Wargo said the process of identifying the position cuts is "very complicated" as the district tries to minimize impacts.

"We’re trying to prioritize teaching and learning," he said during a budget subcommittee meeting this week. "When you have to make cuts, there aren’t places to easily go to. … We’ve worked hard to make sure it was the needs over the wants."

How much financial trouble is Weymouth in?

The department initially proposed a fiscal 2025 budget of $89.1 million, which would be an increase of about $4.9 million, or 5.78%, over this fiscal year. The new fiscal year starts July 1.

But with a tight budget season, the town can only provide the school department with an increase of about $3.2 million, creating a shortfall of almost $1.7 million. The district also needed to add three teaching positions for $200,000, bringing the total shortfall to just shy of $1.9 million.

The latest shortfall came to light after the district already made $2.7 million in cuts as it prepared next year's budget and expected COVID-era funding to run out, union-negotiated pay increases and shaky revenue projections,

As a result, the district will cut 26 positions. Other cost-saving measures include reducing underenrolled courses and streamlining interventions and supports, adding expense reviews and locking in lower energy prices for utilities.

Will Weymouth class sizes increase because of cuts?

School officials have said class sizes won’t change due to the staffing cuts, but Wargo declined to share any specifics about the positions that will eliminated.

"I apologize if I’m appearing to be cryptic. … We want to make sure we have direct conversations face to face about how the budget could impact them or their position," Wargo said.

Staff impacted by the cuts will be notified by May 30, Wargo said. Two dozen of the impacted positions are full-time, and two are part-time.

"We haven’t seen a deficit like this in a while," member Kathy Curran said. "It’s hard. We prioritize student learning and that’s our job."

More: Weymouth needs more cash. How it'll solve its budget woes

Other departments aren't projecting cuts

Mayor Robert Hedlund Chief of Staff Ted Langill recently presented to town council the proposed fiscal 2025 operating budget of about $205.2 million – a 4.3 percent increase from the current $196.8 million budget.

Health insurance is the town's largest budget challenge this year. The cost of health insurance through the state Group Insurance Commission will increase by 11 percent, or $2.8 million. The healthcare increase alone will eat up at least 40 percent of new revenue.

Langill said every department, other than the library, has been allocated less than requested. Overall, he said they reduced department budgets by $4 million – some of which will be funded by other sources, like grants.

The town is looking at increasing town fees, like trash and recycling, to make up the rest of the deficit.

More: Braintree school budget plan: Cut 33 jobs. Will there be a tax override vote?

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Weymouth to cut 26 school positions due to tight budget