Silver Lake Regional School District Faces Potential 11.5% Budget Increase
Officials Consider Drastic Cuts to Meet 2% Target, Including Eliminating Athletics
KINGSTON - January 9 - The Silver Lake Regional School District is grappling with a proposed 11.5% budget increase for the upcoming fiscal year, prompting officials to consider significant cuts to meet a 2% budget increase target set by the school committee.
During a recent school committee meeting, district administrators presented a level services budget of $45,244,783 for fiscal year 2026, which represents an 11.5% increase over the current year's budget. To meet the 2% target, the district would need to cut approximately $2.18 million.
Superintendent Jill Proulx explained the challenges facing the district. "Even though we're talking about a 2% increase, the level service budget, as you'll find out, is more than 2%," she said. "While these are our goals, we recognize that what we're going to present to you tonight at the 2% increase that the school committee asked us to prepare is not going to allow us to do that, and it would require staffing cuts as well."
The administration presented a tiered approach to potential cuts. Tier 1 cuts, totaling $150,792, have already been made and include reductions in technology, curriculum, and supply budgets. Tier 2 cuts, amounting to $638,490, would eliminate late buses, safety supervisor positions, and all athletic and extracurricular stipends.
The most drastic reductions come in Tier 3, totaling $1,580,000. This tier includes the elimination of 16 full-time equivalent faculty positions, four support service positions, and three other full-time equivalent positions.
High School Principal Michaela Gill outlined the potential impact of these cuts. "Staffing cuts would mean fewer class sections can be offered, which would lead to overcrowding and additional schedule conflicts," she said. "The average student-to-teacher ratio would increase, exceeding the optimal learning environments, and we would see core content classes at more than 30 students per class."
Gill added that the cuts could result in the elimination of advanced placement and honors courses, as well as changes to local graduation requirements.
The proposed cuts have drawn criticism from the Silver Lake Education Association (SLEA). Jessica Drew, president of the SLEA, addressed the committee, saying, "Our schools cannot sustain staff cuts especially as our towns continue to grow. We are calling for the school committee to step up with their leadership."
Drew urged the committee to communicate to constituents that the district's budget requests are not frivolous. "Spending that supports education also lowers crime, increases property value and has multiple other positive effects on the community," she said.
School committee members expressed concern about the potential cuts. Jeanne Coleman emphasized the importance of maintaining programs. "We are elected to the committee to advocate for our students," she said. "This budget does not even meet the required needs of our students."
The committee is exploring alternative options to address the budget shortfall. Committee Chair Gordon Laws requested that the administration investigate the possibility of refinancing the district's debt, which is set to be fully paid off in two years.
"We are close enough there and it just seems like it would be utterly ridiculous to be two years out from an increase that sizable of free cash and you know not just cut our noses off to spite our face but disfigure our whole face entirely," Laws said.
The committee also discussed potential revenue sources, including increasing user fees for athletics and facility rentals. These measures could generate an estimated $70,000 in additional revenue.
No final decisions were made at the meeting. The committee plans to wait for additional information, including state funding numbers and public input at an upcoming budget hearing on Feb. 13, before taking any votes on the budget.
The next joint meeting with town officials is scheduled for Feb. 16, where the shared cost budget will be discussed and the possibility of a tax override may be explored.