Universal preschool, athletics, cocurricular activities, a middle school music teacher and a high school French teacher could be restored to the budget after the Jaffrey-Rindge School Board agreed Monday to to use $1.1 million in end-of-year funds to prevent some planned cuts.

The School Board had previously approved a slate of cuts to accommodate a $3 million cut to the board’s originally proposed budget, which was approved at the district’s deliberative session and then during the March 11 elections. The cuts included eliminating a total of 24 1/2 staff positions, eliminating universal pre-school and reverting back to a half-day lottery system, reducing cocurriculars, eliminating athletics and delaying purchase of materials and maintenance, among other items.

On Monday, Superintendent Reuben Duncan offered a one-year bridge to keeping some of the programs that community members have most voiced support for. In 2021, district voters approved a warrant to allow the district to retain up to 5% of its net budget on a yearly basis, which could be used as a catastrophe or emergency fund. Duncan said the board is allowed by law to use the fund as it sees fit, after holding a public hearing on the expenditure. He said the current fund could only be spent on this year’s cost items, but the new budget year will begin in July.

Duncan said projections suggest that the district will be able to retain the full 5% this year, or $1,158,242. Those funds, rather than being kept in reserve for an emergency such as a major building repair, could be used to restore some of the programming that would otherwise be cut.

Using those funds in their entirety comes with risks, Duncan said, particularly if there is an emergency situation that the board might otherwise use those funds for. He said to help ease that risk, the board could decide to delay planned uses of the district’s building maintenance fund, to use in case of emergencies.

Restoring $1.1 million in cuts

Duncan put forth an initial slate of potential restorations, which included universal full-day preschool, athletics and cocurriculars, which totaled $216,613. The majority of the board agreed with the slate as priorities, and discussed what other potential items to include in the list.

Board Chair Lisa Wiley said the first consideration was whether the board wanted to use the fund, and whether they wanted to use the entire fund to restore programs, or leave some back.

“We have to really consider if it’s worth the risk to take this catastrophe fund, and put it toward our current catastrophe,” Wiley said.

The board indicated unanimously that it was not only for using the fund, but using it in its entirety.

“We aren’t going to be able to restore everything. People are still going to be unhappy, if it’s not what they want restored,” said board member Sandra Stewart. “This cut was significant, it was significant and cut a broad range of things.”

In discussions, access to universal full-day preschool and athletics were the areas board members reiterated as priorities. Board member Chris Ratcliffe said that in hearing from the community, those were the two he heard the most about.

“Every single person on this board has had their email blow up. We fully understand. I hear what everyone has to say,” Ratcliffe said. “There’s a reason it was in our original budget.”

Board member Christine Pressman said cocurriculars were also a priority for her.

When it came to additional positions to use the funds for, the high school French program and middle school music were referenced multiple times.

“If we can afford it, add in the French and the music,” said board member Charlie Eicher.

The board, though it did unanimously agree to approve the slate of funds to present in a public hearing in August, did not universally agree on all points. New board member Judy Ferstenberg said that preschool is great when the district can afford it, but that’s not the case right now, and would prefer to see funds focused on restoring teachers at grade levels.

Ratcliffe noted that if any programs were likely to receive public funding support, it would be sports and extracurriculars, noting that partially funding those and relying on donations for at least part of the year could save another teaching position.

Community responds

Before taking the vote to finalize the slate of restorations, the board took comments from the public. Several residents referenced the fact that, while they were thankful the programs would be there next year, it was a one-year solution.

“When this comes around again at the deliberative session next year, these things aren’t going to be in your budget, so you better be in the seats, making sure that they’re put back in the budget, so we don’t have to go through this again,” said resident Kathy Batchelder.

Conant teacher Mike Rowland said the measure was a “Band-Aid,” and that while he didn’t want to see his students “gutted” by the loss of sports and extracurriculars, he felt saving teaching positions was the priority.

Conant student and athlete Braeden Dion of Jaffrey said that students have provided for the community through volunteerism, and are a part of the community.

“A lot of what’s seen by the students is a lot of back and forth between two sides, and I think it’s childish,” Dion said. “A community shouldn’t be focused on their self-needs; it should be focused on the public needs, and the future needs. And to discount the futures of the students is one of the most disrespectful things I’ve come across so far.”

Hannah Manley, a Conant senior and athlete, thanked the board for their efforts to restore some of the cuts.

“Thank you. I never once questioned that your best interests were in it for us,” Manley said. “I trust you guys with everything, and I appreciate everything you’ve done talking about bringing stuff back next year, thank you on behalf of all athletes here tonight.”

Ashley Saari can be reached at 603-924-7172, Ext. 244, or asaari@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on X @AshleySaariMLT.