ABINGTON - March 3, 2026 - The Abington School Committee faced its most challenging session of the year as Superintendent Dr. Felicia Moschella unveiled a list of 28.1 staff positions slated for elimination should a proposed town-wide tax override fail this spring. Describing the process as “surgical” and “painstaking,” school officials warned that the $1.76 million budget gap would necessitate the removal of reading specialists, elective teachers, and entire department head positions, fundamentally altering the educational experience for Abington students.
The Full Story
The meeting, rescheduled from February due to a recent blizzard, was dominated by a stark presentation on the town’s fiscal health and its direct impact on the schools. Town Manager Mike Maresco opened the discussion by framing Abington’s situation as a “revenue problem” shared by at least 40 other Massachusetts communities. According to Maresco, state aid (Chapter 70 and Unrestricted Local Aid) has failed to keep pace with the rising costs of healthcare, pensions, and utilities.
Maresco detailed a “menu” approach for the upcoming override, which will present residents with six or seven separate ballot questions for different departments, including schools, police, and fire. If the override fails, the town will be forced to operate on a “level-funded” budget, which Maresco characterized as a functional cut given fixed-cost increases. For the school department, this translates to a $1,763,957 deficit.
Superintendent Dr. Felicia Moschella presented the proposed reduction in force (RIF) list, emphasizing that 21.1 of the 28.1 impacted full-time equivalent (FTE) positions are currently filled by staff members who have already been notified. “I can say that in my tenure as superintendent, this is the hardest meeting that I’ve had to have,” Moschella stated.
“Every single one of these cuts represents a person and represents somebody that impacts the children of Abington. ... We wanted to be upfront and transparent with people, but that also causes another level of angst.” [01:37:40] — Dr. Felicia Moschella, Superintendent
The proposed cuts span every level of the district:
Elementary Schools: Beaver Brook would lose a second-grade teacher, causing class sizes to rise, and three special education paraprofessionals. Woodsdale is slated to lose both of its reading specialists, a school adjustment counselor, and multiple math tutors.
Middle School: Grade 5 and 6 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) classes would be eliminated. World Language instruction would be halved, with Spanish I taught over two years instead of one. Grade 5 and 6 class sizes are projected to reach nearly 30 students.
High School: The plan eliminates popular electives in digital art, photography, and computer science. The Physical Science course would be removed entirely, and ELA and science class sizes would swell as staff are reduced.
District-wide: Perhaps most significantly, the district proposes eliminating all stipended Department Head positions (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Wellness, and World Language). These roles are critical for curriculum alignment and teacher support.
Earlier in the meeting, the committee received a department update from Meg Doherty, the 7-12 Math Department Head. She discussed the department’s transition to a 90/10 grading split at the high school, where 90% of a student’s grade is derived from assessments to ensure grades reflect “authentic work” rather than homework completed with the help of AI or online tools. Committee members expressed concerns about how the proposed RIF would impact the very curriculum alignment work Doherty described, noting that the loss of department heads would likely “pause” these essential improvements.
Why It Matters
If the override is rejected by voters, the Abington Public Schools will see a significant reduction in student support services and academic rigor. The loss of reading and math specialists means students struggling to meet grade-level standards will lose targeted, small-group intervention. Furthermore, the elimination of STEAM programs and high school electives limits the “enrichment” that school committee members identified as a primary reason families choose Abington. Larger class sizes—some approaching 30 students in the middle school—will also likely impact individual student attention and teacher retention.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the January 6, 2026, Executive Session minutes.
Vote: Unanimous ([01:21])
Motion: To approve the January 27, 2026, regular meeting minutes.
Vote: Unanimous ([01:44])
Motion: To approve the Home Education Program request for the 2025-2026 school year.
Vote: Unanimous ([34:54])
Motion: To adjourn.
Vote: Unanimous ([01:52:26])
Public Comment
There was no public comment offered during the designated period at the start of the meeting.
What’s Next
The School Committee will hold a special budget-focused meeting on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. to finalize the override figures for the town.
Source Video: Abington CAM