Concerns raised over school budget as the School Committee discusses a revision

After concerned parents and educators addressed School Committee members with their hesitations regarding the Dartmouth Public Schools Fiscal Year 2026 budget on Monday, March 24, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations James Kiely proposed a revision that could relieve some pressures.

Kiely explained the district could request an additional $245,000 from the town, which would be about 0.24% of the town’s overall budget, for the next five years to cover the salaries of 11 positions and also fund before and after school programs, which are currently being funded by school choice.

“It doesn’t mean that it’s going to solve all our problems,” he said. “It does mean that if this were considered by the town, it would solve one pretty big problem … [which is] resulting in other communities laying off staff right now.”

Kiely said he plans to speak with interim Town Administrator Gary Carriero to see if the Finance Committee and the Select Board would consider supporting the proposal.

This additional $245,000 a year from the town would ease some budgeting troubles but wouldn’t solve all of the concerns raised during the March 24 public hearing, such as dealing with increasing class sizes.

Renee Vieira, co-president of the Dartmouth Educators Association, raised concerns over how the district would address the increasing needs of students and growing class sizes while also reducing the number of classroom teachers.

Jody Parisi, Vieira’s co-president, noted that the percentages of students who are high needs, from low income households or have disabilities have increased and that Dartmouth’s student to teacher ratio is higher than the state average.

“We’re concerned that the district’s response is to cut classroom teaching positions and make classroom sizes larger,” she said.

Zach Tavares, a dad of three who is on the DeMello school council, said he believes the district is “headed for a wall” without any room for growth and was concerned that the proposed budget was only addressing a quarter of the district’s problems.

“It feels more pie in the sky to pretend these issues don’t exist,” he said. “We have to work together to solve this very real issue.”

He added, “What’s good for the schools is good for everyone.”

Erin Souza, who attended Dartmouth Public Schools and now has a child in fifth grade, said she thinks Dartmouth has a reputation for investing in public education that it shouldn’t lose.

“I think the budget before us expects our students and educators to disproportionately do more with less,” she said.

“I hope that we’ll support a budget that’s sustainable, fair and reflective of the high standards and high quality education our community expects and all of our kids deserve,” she added.