Stoughton school officials warned of a looming fiscal crisis Wednesday night, projecting as many as 32 staff layoffs to bridge a $3.4 million shortfall in the upcoming fiscal year. Superintendent Joseph Baeta delivered a grim assessment of the district’s financial outlook, citing a state funding formula that he argues penalizes the town for the sudden departure of students previously housed in the state’s shelter system. Baeta noted that while the district educated 142 students from the shelter system last year, those students have since been relocated by the state, leading to a decline in enrollment that triggered a significant drop in state aid.

There's no sugar coating this for the school department this year, Baeta told the Finance Committee. This is a challenging budget cycle. Stoughton is projected to receive the minimum amount of Student Opportunity Act (SOA) funding, which is $75 per student only. School Committee Chair Christine Shannon echoed the concern, noting that despite high school staffing improvements and reduced absenteeism, the budget has faced years of level service funding that has not kept pace with rising transportation costs, increasing out-of-district tuitions, and growing enrollment in high-needs populations.

The meeting took a tense turn during the question-and-answer period when Member Arnie Feinberg questioned why staffing wasn’t decreasing alongside enrollment. If there's less illegal families' children in the school system, why are we not seeing less teachers? Feinberg asked. Chair Carolyn Campbell immediately intervened, calling the language inappropriate. If you would like to ask about migrant families or shelter students, that would be acceptable, Campbell said. No people are illegal. All of our students deserve respect. Member Marty West later added a point of personal privilege, stating, Freedom of speech does not mean you get to open your mouth whenever you feel like it, expressing discomfort with the decorum of the proceedings.

Superintendent Baeta clarified that the district is not seeking a bailout from the municipal budget or free cash, but rather preparing for significant cuts. If we have to cut $3 million, we are looking at 28 to 32 layoffs depending on salaries, Baeta said. Member Laura Gunn questioned the logic of the deficit, asking, If the number of students has gone down because the shelter students left, why is there such a big deficit now if the budget is based on enrollment? Baeta explained that while overall numbers dropped, the percentage of high-needs students—particularly those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)—has surged, with 25% of new enrollees this year requiring specialized services.

The committee also delved into potential revenue streams and cost-saving measures. Member Dennis Carter inquired about the possibility of charging for school materials, but Baeta noted that while the district is discussing athletic and activity fees, It is illegal to charge for books or electronics. Vice Chair Becca Markson focused on transportation, asking if the town owned its fleet. Baeta reported a new special education transportation contract is expected to save $1.6 million over five years by moving to a per-run charge model. Meanwhile, Member Benjamin Carre asked about the financial viability of school choice, which Baeta dismissed as a losing proposition for Stoughton, noting it costs $17,500 to educate a student while the state only provides $5,000 in choice funding.

Capital requests also drew scrutiny, including Article 21, which seeks $666,330 for door replacements and smart panel updates at O'Donnell Middle School (OMS). Member Heidi Tucker asked if the door project could include widening the main ramp entrance for the Winter Guard program, a suggestion Baeta promised to investigate. Motion Made by J. Wolk to continue the public hearings for both the May 4th Annual and Special Town Meetings. Motion Passed (Unanimous).

The district is also requesting $500,000 for a Special Education Stabilization Fund to handle mid-year emergency placements, which can cost up to $300,000 per student. Member Joel Wolk reviewed specific line items in the budget booklet, noting a salary drop for the superintendent position as Baeta retires and Superintendent-elect Julie Miller takes over. Julie, thank you for the pay cut, Wolk joked, referring to Miller’s starting salary compared to Baeta’s veteran rate. Member Dawn Dino asked about Title I federal funding for the South School, but Assistant Superintendent Jonathan Ford explained the school’s 32% poverty rating falls below the 40% federal threshold for school-wide programming.

Public comment reflected a divide in the community. One longtime resident praised the evolution of special education in Stoughton as a huge improvement, while Member Marty West, speaking as a resident, argued for a more conservative fiscal approach. Bring to town meeting a balanced budget based on what the town said, a 3.5% increase, West said, suggesting the district should recalibrate following the shelter student departure. The committee ultimately moved to continue the discussions to the following Monday to finalize their recommendations. Motion Made by J. Wolk to continue the public hearings for the annual and special town meeting for all articles to Monday. Motion Passed (Unanimous).