'A Very Sad Day For Enfield' As School Chief Outlines Budget Cuts

ENFIELD, CT — Faced with the task of trimming more than $9.5 million from its budget needs, emotional members of the Enfield Board of Education were presented a huge menu of likely reductions, involving the termination of more than 100 teachers and staff members, as well as numerous programs throughout the district.

A special meeting of the board Wednesday ostensibly had the purpose of formally accepting the appropriation of $77,429,554 for fiscal year 2024-25. That amount, approved last week by the town council, represents an increase of 1.98 percent over the current fiscal year, but fell far short of the requested amount of $82,511,081, which would have been an 8.68 percent increase.

A grim-faced interim Superintendent of Schools Andy Longey began the outline of reductions by stating, "Before I start, I want to say there is absolutely nothing educational about this presentation. It is a very sad day for Enfield and public education in general. I want to remind everyone, for every position and program cut, there is a real person behind it. These professionals have dedicated their careers here, and we are shattering their livelihood, their family life and I'm sure their mental well-being. This is simply not a good day."

With that said, Longey demonstrated the plan to meet the new budget line, beginning with non-personnel expenses of $2.114 million. These include insurance, nutrition, substitutes and a reduction in Head Start transportation.

Staff reductions were shown for each town school, including Enfield High School (21.2 positions cut), John F. Kennedy Middle School (13.7), Prudence Crandall (7), Edgar H. Parkman (5.5), Eli Whitney (5.5), Henry Barnard (9.3), Enfield Street School (4.5) and Hazardville Memorial (5.5). Also noted were reductions in administration (14 jobs cut), elementary specialists (20.3), Stowe Early Learning Center (5) and behavior techs (18).

An administrative restructuring will result in the loss of two central office positions, two deans at the high school, six curriculum department coordinators, a special education coordinator and 18 behavioral techs. Reductions in grades PK-5 include 25 grade-level teachers, 20.5 specialists and six elementary coaches.

At JFK, eight grade-level teachers will be let go, resulting in the elimination of the team teaching model in place for decades. Other middle school cuts include a reading teacher, a school counselor, a special education teacher and a pair of world language teachers, which will put an end to the sixth-grade world language program.

Sports, a library media specialist, a late bus and some student activity stipends will be eliminated at the middle school. Longey said stipend programs such as Best Buddies, drama, yearbook, National Junior Honor Society and variety show will be retained.

A total of 15.2 teaching positions will be dropped at the high school, along with two career counselors, a technical integration specialist, freshman sports, board-funded AP exams and PSAT testing and select student activity stipends. Yearbook, class advisors, student government, DECA, culinary, National Honor Society, Unified sports, drama, music and Buzz Robotics will stay, according to Longey.

In total, 129.5 jobs will be lost district-wide, with 25 of those caused by retirements, resignations and a long-term substitute. Of the remaining 104.5 positions to be cut, pink slips will be issued to 45 non-tenured teachers and 22.5 tenured teachers, as well as the administrators, Stowe and behavior tech spots.

Longey said a "bumping" process will be in effect, and school officials anticipate a number of staff members to leave due to the overhaul. He said all retirement requests will be granted.

"If there are any teachers, administrators or secretaries who want to retire because of this, we will accept it and you will receive your full payout contractually," he said.

Openings for two Enfield High School assistant principals and four curriculum directors need to be posted immediately, Longey said, adding, "Once administrative positions are filled, teacher notifications of job status and/or placement wlll be assigned. The board will vote to terminate tenured teachers once the interim superintendent has issued a letter and met with each of them."

When asked by board members about class sizes, Longey responded, "The goal is not to go over 30,"adding kindergarten classes will remain at 20-21 and other grade levels will range from "the low 20s to 28."

Board member Phil Kober made a motion to adjust a line item under District-wide Instruction, noting just $20,000 was spent on items such as property, equipment and furniture in 2022-23. With a 2024-25 allocation of $224,000, he proposed cutting $200,000 from that account, using $100,000 to restore sports at the middle school and freshman levels and the other half moved for other needs. The motion was defeated 7-2, with board member Tina LeBlanc emphatically stating, "I will vote to save teachers, and teachers only, when you look at these class sizes and we're into tenured teachers."

Chairwoman Charlotte Riley said that despite being a former Division I athlete in college, "Reading, math, the fundamentals are more important at this point in time. We need to make sure our kids are educated and that they're safe."

The full meeting may be viewed here.