Teaching positions, athletic teams and academic coaches would be eliminated if Barrington school officials were asked to cut an additional $500,000 from the proposed operating budget.

At the school committee meeting on Thursday night, April 11, officials presented a list of potential eliminations and reductions that would take place should they be asked to cut another $500,000 from the proposed $52,703,348 school operating budget. 

Barrington Schools' Director of Administration and Finance Doug Fiore and Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore shared the list of could-be cuts with members of the school committee.

"There are really no good choices," said Mr. Fiore, adding that officials focused their potential cuts on new initiatives and other areas that fall outside the mandated basic education plan. 

Officials divided the potential cuts into three areas: Cuts impacting new initiatives; cuts impacting academics; and cuts impacting athletics.

The potential cuts to new initiatives included the elimination of new academic coaching positions, and social/emotional support positions. (The transportation cost increase of about $249,000 associated in part with the change in school start time was not included in the potential cuts.)

Academics slated for potential elimination included a reduction in the number of Latin courses offered at the high school, a reduction in high school English language arts personnel, and a reduction in high school business course personnel and middle school and high school library personnel. 

School officials listed some potential cuts to athletics also — all middle school sports teams (not including cross country and track), and high school freshmen and JV sports teams would be eliminated. The new athletic administrative position at the high school and a new pole vault pit would also be cut.

School officials presented the "what if scenario" in response to a request from the Barrington Committee on Appropriations, although Mr. Fiore and others said they would have preferred not to.

"This is not something we wanted to do," said Mr. Fiore, adding that the Committee on Appropriations had requested the exercise because taxpayers will occasionally propose a large cut to the budget as part of the financial town meeting process. 

Mr. Messore emphasized that the district did not support these potential cuts and was only fulfilling the COA request. The superintendent explained the reasoning behind and potential impact of each reduction or elimination.

Mr. Fiore said the potential eliminations and reductions actually represent about $620,000, but only result in $500,000, as the district would have to pay more than $119,000 for additional unemployment. 

Barrington School Committee Chairwoman Dr. Megan Douglas again reiterated that these potential cuts were not being suggested by the committee. She added that Barrington schools have for many years been run very efficiently. 

Dr. Douglas also referenced something that had been shared at a recent COA meeting, where officials believe some local taxpayers want a steak dinner, but only want to pay for a hamburger. 

Barrington Schools Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Paula Dillon said that taxpayers have already been enjoying a steak dinner for the price of a hamburger. Ms. Dillon said any of the potential cuts would have a dramatic negative impact on the students. 

School committee member Anna Clancy said that suggesting cuts to the school budget would pit different segments of the population against each other. She said that this exercise should not be mistaken for a "budget update."

School committee member Gina Bae said the school district would have a very difficult time recovering if it ever faced cuts like those shared in the "what-if scenario."

School committee member Erika Sevetson said she was concerned that this information would be "sitting out there" until April 23 when the Committee on Appropriations is scheduled to vote on its budget recommendation. 

Dr. Douglas said she would have "zero interest" in the school district sharing the information through an emailed message to parents of students. She said she did not want the community to believe that this "what-if scenario" was supported by school officials.

'What if scenario' 

Following are the list of potential cuts school officials would make if forced to cut about $500,000 from the proposed operating budget:

Cuts impacting new initiatives

• Eliminate new coaching support — value $126,207.90 (2 Full Time Equivalents)

• Reduce curriculum materials — $136,617.39 (0 FTes)

• Eliminate proposed/new social emotional support — $60,708.05 (.5 FTEs)

Cuts impacting academics

• Reduction in high school Latin sections — $30,519.80 (.4 FTEs)

• Additional reduction in high school ELA personnel — $38,827.75 (.5)

• Reduction in high school business personnel — $47,159.32 (.4 FTEs)

• Reduction in MS and HS library — $52,793.17 (1.5 FTEs)

Cuts impacting athletics 

• Reduction in middle school athletics — $30,304.71

• Elimination in high school freshmen athletics — $35,852

• Reduction in high school JV — $40,812.25

• Reduction in high school athletics — $19,100

Unemployment offset ($119,100)

Total reduction: $499,094.33 (5.3 FTEs)