from the Gardner News:

WINCHENDON — It has been a year unlike any other, but teachers and students muddled through, making the best of a crippling situation as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted their routines. But on Thursday, June 11, more than 60 school district employees were eliminated.

The Winchendon Teachers Association released a statement saying the school department made the decision to terminate the contracts of all 32 first- and second-year teachers, six specialist teachers, many of whom have been in the district for decades, and every para-educator in the district. Union President Christina Ricard stated that the decision was made in response to the dire projections of up to 20 percent reduction in Chapter 70 funds from the state, and the uncertain nature of what school is going to look like in the fall.

The staff members were not merely pink-slipped as in previous years when operating budgets were decided.

“We are already bare bones, a skeletal crew, but this is a decimation of our staffing,” said Heidi Bevacqua, a special needs teacher at Murdock High School. “We are to anticipate, worst-case scenario, 20 percent less than the previous year. That is a $3 million dollar cut to our school’s budget. As soon as the Chapter 70 amounts are released, we can begin bringing back positions,” she added. “Those people who were fired will have to reapply for their jobs, assuming they haven’t been hired elsewhere before we can begin to repair this damage.”

Ricard also spoke of the possibility of bringing employees back to the district.

“While they have stated their desire to bring everyone back, should the budget and circumstances allow, things look very uncertain, especially without special action being taken at the state and national levels to ensure that schools get the funding they need to provide a quality education to all students,” said union president Christina Ricard. “This idea is a pillar of our democracy, and our legislators, representatives and senators need to take action to make certain education receives the funding needed to achieve this.”

Bevacqua suggested that school funding can come from other sources such as the HEROES (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions) Act. She encouraged people to call their elected officials and tell them how they feel about the Winchendon schools.

“They were elected to work for you. Tell them to support us because we are preparing their replacements. Be involved outside of Facebook and let those that represent you know how you feel about your school employees,” Bevacqua said.

Superintendent Joan Landers was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon, June 12.

This year’s district budget presented before the pandemic called for $17,225,945 in net school spending that included $11.5 million in Chapter 70 funds and $5.6 million in local contributions. Indirect costs to the town would have been $3.4 million. Other grants and revenues would bring the total bottom line back up to $15,997,400 in total estimated revenue. There was already a projected deficit of $646,827 before the pandemic hit.

Other districts are feeling the same pressures, and cuts are already in progress across the state, especially in districts that rely heavily on state and federal funding to meet mandates.