Manchester Essex Board Reviews Plan to Cut 22 Positions if Essex Override Fails

ESSEX — April 2, 2025 — Manchester Essex Regional School District lays out 22-position contingency plan ahead of May 12 override ballot. Superintendent Pamela Beaudoin presented a detailed override contingency plan at the April 2 School Committee meeting showing that a failed Proposition 2½ override vote in Essex would require cutting approximately 22.7 full-time equivalent positions — roughly 25 people — and closing a $2 million operating gap, with a deeper structural deficit of nearly $2.9 million once reserves are stripped out. Cuts would affect every school and grade level, including the elimination of two instructional coaching positions, a move to fee-based out-of-school instrumental music, a reduction in elementary PE to once per week with a weekly early release, elimination of the Bridge program counselor, a 50 percent reduction in school resource officer time, and up to 17.5 fewer high school course sections. "This isn't a temporary disruption," Beaudoin told the board. "This is really a shift in the district's capacity and way of doing business." High school social studies teacher Jennifer argued the social studies cut alone could leave 60 to 100 students without a requested class. The committee separately approved a $110,970 stabilization-fund draw to replace aging network switches, taking advantage of $44,000 in remaining federal E-rate funding. Essex's town meeting is May 5, with the override ballot set for May 12.