School budget cuts spark outcry at public hearing

On May 11, the Gloucester School Committee held a scheduled public hearing where residents voiced their thoughts on Mayor Lundberg’s proposed Fiscal-Year 2027 (FY27) district budget. Prior to the meeting, the School Committee had presented an level funded budget requiring an additional $2.6 million over last year’s budget.  In response, Lundberg proposed a budget that would provide the district with only $1.25 million, leaving a $1.35 million funding gap.

Under the proposed budget, 22.5 GPS staff members would be impacted, with 18.5 positions eliminated across the district. Positions threatened include two eighth-grade educators in the O’Maley Middle School “house” system, multilingual teachers at both Gloucester High School and O’Maley, and eight high school teachers in core departments, as well as Business and Cabinet Design programs.

The proposed cuts have unsettled educators, School Committee members, and community residents alike. Many attended the public hearing to address the committee and Mayor Paul Lundberg directly, urging city leaders to reconsider the funding proposal and preserve programs they believe are essential to students’ futures.

Among those who spoke was GHS science teacher David Enos, who defended Elective Program Leader Tim Rose and the school’s Cabinet Design program. “Please, I ask, find another way that you can keep this teacher at Gloucester High School, where kids can do hands on learning,” Enos said.

He emphasized the impact the program has on students, adding, “[The students] are proud of what they’ve done. They’re proud of their accomplishments, and it makes them better adults.”

Gloucester High School Class of 2013 alumnus George Black also reflected on his experience in the district, advocating for current students to have “the same opportunities that the past generations of graduates like my family had, opportunities like taking cabinet design and learning life skills from a teacher like Mr. Rose.” Black urged the mayor and City Council to reconsider the proposed budget, stating that “students should not be cheated of the same opportunity of past generations.”

Tim Rose, who has worked in Gloucester Public Schools for 20 years, addressed the committee to speak about the possible elimination of the Cabinet Design program. Rose argued that the course offers students much more than vocational training.

“The view that cabinet design is merely a vocational class creating physical objects, is fully to misunderstand its essence,” Rose said. “The program is a dynamic laboratory for developing critical 21st century competencies. Students don’t just learn the craft. They master digital literacy, engage in iterative thinking and design, and explore the intricate evolution of modern technology.”

Rose further warned that eliminating the program “dismantles a vital educational pathway,” particularly for students who may never engage with traditional shop classes. “It provides an unparalleled access to fundamental principles of design, cutting edge technology, creative expression, and hands on problem solving.” He concluded by urging city officials to fully support threatened programs, saying that “through the six decades of [cabinet design’s] community success, our students deserve nothing less.”

The hearing also highlighted concerns over the impact of cuts on multilingual education services. Vanessa Lindberg, a multilingual professional whose position is among those threatened, shared testimonials from students and families, many of whom offered their support in Spanish before Lindberg translated their remarks.

“I am the first contact for a lot of families,” Lindberg said. “And, not only do I help as a tutor, as a translator, I’m a liaison, and I liaise with every single department in this building, from top to bottom, from matriculation towards engagement, welcoming, belonging – all of these things that are principal values of our establishment here. I’m mixed in with it all.”

Lindberg stressed the breadth of her role within the district, adding, “So I’m not just a connection point, not just a translator, not just a tool. I’m mixed in with all these folks and I hope that that’s coming through.”

Several educators framed the proposed cuts as a reflection of the city’s broader priorities. GHS history teacher Alyssa D’Antonio criticized the budget process directly.

“When we budget, we have to look at what we want to invest in and what we are willing to pay for,” she said. “And I think that the education of our greatest resource is now something that you have relegated to what you are willing to pay for. And when you are not willing to pay for something, those are the first things that we cut. Those are the first pennies that we pinch. When we pinch those pennies in our school budget, it’s not just a dollar here or there, those are real people you are cutting.”

Stephanie Couture, an eighth-grade educator and English program leader at O’Maley Middle School, also challenged city leaders to align the budget with the district’s stated values.

“If you truly believe that everyday matters and everyone belongs, then prove it,” she said. “Provide a budget that allows us to meet the diverse needs of our students, and create a work environment, where the belonging can thrive. Without that, every day will not matter, and not all will feel they belong.”

Similarly, GHS history teacher Rich Francis questioned the city’s commitment to education during his remarks.

“What are we doing here? At what point are we gonna finally admit that we don’t prioritize education as priority number one?” Francis said. “And it’s about time that we finally say, ‘You know what? We are going to prioritize the children. It’s about time we prioritize what is going to happen for the future.’”

Former Gloucester High School principal Billy Goodwin warned that cuts to educational programs can have long-lasting effects, noting courses such as Child Development and Culinary Arts, which were cut from the GHS curriculum.

“Once a program gets cut,” Goodwin said.  “It’s not coming back.”