Marshfield school leaders unveiled a harrowing list of potential budget reductions Tuesday, warning that the elimination of 66 positions and the closure of an elementary school may be necessary to bridge a $7.1 million town-wide deficit. The School Committee’s subcommittee reviewed a $5.7 million reduction plan designed to meet the district’s $4.52 million share of the shortfall while providing a buffer for looming contract negotiations. Superintendent Patrick Sullivan characterized the proposal as a fundamental threat to the district, stating, None of these are good; they are going to deeply affect the way we go about educating our students. The cuts are deep enough that they could impact the fabric and character of Marshfield Public Schools.

The most significant proposal involves shuttering one of the town’s elementary schools to save an estimated $700,000 in operational costs. Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Tom Miller explained that while a total building budget nears $1 million, savings are limited because specialized staff like speech therapists would simply move to other buildings. Closing a school by September is a very difficult ask, Miller noted, adding that he would advise against selling any shuttered property to preserve options for future enrollment shifts. Vice Chair Lara Brait questioned if a sale could provide immediate relief, but Miller cautioned that such a move won't help us next year.

Beyond building closures, the plan targets classroom experience by eliminating six elementary teaching positions, a move that would push class sizes to a maximum of 28 students. Member Kendra Stetson noted the importance of clarifying current conditions amid community rumors, stating, There is a narrative on social media that it is 12 kids to one teacher. In reality, the average is 20, and we are talking about bumping it to 28. The elementary level would also see the loss of five assistant principals, math and literacy coaches, and a significant reduction in music and library staff.

The secondary schools face similarly steep reductions. At the Middle School, administrators proposed dissolving the eighth-grade team model to move toward a junior high structure, cutting two teachers and an assistant principal. High School reductions include the elimination of four English positions, which would end the long-standing writing conference program, and the loss of a guidance counselor. Sullivan noted that guidance caseloads would jump from 200 to 250 students per counselor. The plan also suggests the total elimination of freshman sports and the position of Athletic Director.

To offset the cuts, the district is eyeing substantial fee increases for families. Athletic fees could rise by $100 per sport, while transportation fees are proposed to double from $180 to $360 per student. Miller provided a stark comparison between the cost of an override and the cost of new fees, noting that a $7 million override would cost the average homeowner roughly $600 a year. If you have kids in athletics, the fee increase alone is $600, Miller said. Brait observed that In some scenarios, the athletic fee would be more than what a family would pay for the override.

The committee expressed deep reservations about cuts to student support services. Stetson voiced particular concern over the reduction of a school nurse and social workers. My mentality is that kids can't learn unless they are healthy and safe, Stetson said. I'm very reluctant to cut nursing and support positions. Brait added concerns about the operational toll on remaining staff, saying, I'm worried about burnout and people having so much to do they can't keep up. These negative effects go down to the students.

District leadership emphasized that special education positions were largely excluded from the list due to legal mandates, though Miller warned that cutting in-district support could eventually trigger expensive out-of-district placements. The Select Board is expected to vote on whether to put an override on the Town Meeting warrant during their next session, which will determine if the district moves forward with this "Reduction Budget" or a more stable "Override Budget." The full School Committee is scheduled to review the comprehensive cut list on March 31.