Teacher layoffs not needed
The Concord school board has a $17 million deficit for the budget running July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. Their goal is to have no more than a 5% increase over last year’s budget. To reach that goal there will be two public meetings — next Monday, March 23 at Millbrook school 6 p.m., followed by another meeting on Wednesday, March 25 at the superintendent’s office at 38 Liberty St. at 6 p.m.
So far, there are 35 teacher and staff cuts to be made across all schools and the superintendent’s office and more, likely, in the final tally. If the school board delays, the interest only bond of $3.5 million (interest only on the first $80 million borrowed to get the construction going) for the first year by pausing the building of the school, that $3.5 million would pay for 35 teachers and staff at $100,000 each. It would also prevent the loss forever of Concord’s first-in-line chance at $31 million state aid if and when it returns. And if that chance disappears, it turns into over 50 million (bonded) on the Concord taxpayers backs. By the school board’s own statement, as soon as they put a shovel in the ground at the end of April they lose that $31 million chance permanently.
So what should be done? Build a school and layoff the teachers or delay the school and keep the teachers. Save a chance at $31 million state aid or throw it back on the taxpayers in the form of a 50+ million dollar bonded cost?