Duxbury School Committee Grapples with Budget Cuts Amid Fiscal Challenges

Universal Full-Day Kindergarten Sparks Debate as District Faces Potential Staffing Reductions

DUXBURY, MA - November 20 - The Duxbury School Committee faced difficult decisions at its Nov. 20 meeting as members worked to balance the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. With a potential 8.51% increase needed to maintain current services, the committee is considering cuts to staffing and programs while trying to preserve educational quality.

Superintendent Danielle Klingaman presented updated budget scenarios, including a "real needs" budget with an 8.51% increase and a level-funded budget with 2.5% growth. The real needs budget would still require trimming 5.8 full-time equivalent positions, while the level-funded scenario could lead to cutting up to 24.5 FTEs.

"The worst part of budget cuts is it's easy to say in concept that we can work through this," Klingaman said. "The rubber hits the road when you have to sit and have conversations with individuals who may be impacted by potential cuts."

A key point of contention was whether to continue offering universal full-day kindergarten without tuition, which was implemented this year. Some committee members argued it should remain in the budget as approved by voters, while others suggested reinstating tuition could save six teaching positions.

Committee member Laurel Deacon made a motion to direct the Superintendent to include universal full-day kindergarten in both budget scenarios.

"We made a decision as a committee because of what we understood about the education of our students. And we knew what the budget was gonna look like this year," Deacon said. "This for me is something that is critically important for our students and a statement that we're making."

The motion failed in a 3-2 vote, with some members saying it was premature to make that decision.

"I just think it's too early for us to lock into something like that tonight because the numbers are gonna be changing," said committee member Kellie Bresnehan. "And I just think to mandate part of our budget tonight ties our hands simply."

Other major budget considerations include:

- A potential market adjustment to teacher salaries, estimated at over $1 million

- Reducing 4.5 district administration positions

- Cutting counselors, tutors and teaching positions across grade levels

- Reducing summer guidance counselor hours

Speakers expressed concern about impacts on class sizes, especially at Alden School which will have the district's two largest classes next year.

"Class size does matter, and I know 25 is the limit or whatnot, but to have classes of 23 and 24 with however many number of students of need in those classes, that's an intricate dance that they do every year and how to balance those," said a speaker off camera.

The budget discussions come as the district reported strong MCAS results, with students outperforming state averages across subjects and grade levels. Administrators credited aligned curriculum, professional development and targeted student supports for the gains.

"I'm just personally so proud to see the progress that our middle school has made," Klingaman said. "I think that we owe a great deal of appreciation to the work that they're doing, especially also coming out of elementary, working with the curriculum supervisors at the elementary level for that vertical alignment."

The committee will continue budget deliberations at its Dec. 4 meeting, aiming to vote on a final recommendation to bring to the town's Finance Committee. Members were asked to come prepared with their individual budget priorities and suggestions.

"We as a committee will vote a number that we then bring," Deacon said. "Now, again, a critical part of this, which is the challenge with the scheduling and the timing, is that we've just had this conversation and we haven't heard from the Finance Committee yet."