Enfield teachers, students, parents, and community members are reeling today after learning at a Board of Education meeting last night that Enfield Public Schools will have 20% fewer educators when students head back to school this fall. The district will also see additional severe cuts to a number of programs and services and class sizes of 28-30 students.
As more than 500 people watched in-person and online, Acting Superintendent Andy Longey explained that 129 staff positions—including 92 teaching positions—will be eliminated to conform with the budget passed by the Town Council. That number includes 25 retirements and resignations, meaning 67 teachers will lose their jobs.
“Enfield’s leadership has decided to wage war on the Enfield Public Schools and children,” said Enfield Teachers’ Association Vice President Bill DeLaney. “They say it’s in the name of fiscal responsibility, but it’s fiscal malpractice.”
“This is just absolutely ridiculous. I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like next year,” said third-grade teacher Amy Guzie. “Imagine what it’s going to be like when I teach third grade and I have 28 students in my class, no support if there’s a behavior issue, no substitute if I’m feeling sick.”
Despite an outpouring of support for a fairly funded budget from teachers, students, parents, and community members the Town Council last week approved $9.5 million in cuts to schools—voting along party lines for a 2% increase rather than the 8.68% proposed by the Board of Education, which was already less than needed to maintain current services.
Because of the significant number of positions to be cut, both non-tenured and tenured teachers will lose their jobs.
“It’s really sad that people who don’t know what goes on in the classroom are the people who are in charge of making all of these decisions,” said Guzie.
“It’s scary to think that my atypical child is the one that’s going to be struggling the most out of this,” parent Danielle Girard said.
“It’s disheartening, it’s frustrating,” said Tod Couture, a special education teacher and past ETA president. “People have been told they don’t have jobs. They’re crying and wondering if ‘I’m next.’ Everybody is hanging on by a thread.”
In addition to the personnel cuts, the district will also eliminate the team teaching model common at most middle schools, cut world languages for sixth graders, stop covering the cost of AP exams and PSAT testing, cut a variety of afterschool clubs, and eliminate all middle school and ninth grade sports.
“There is absolutely nothing educational about this presentation,” said Longey. “It is a very sad day for Enfield and public education in general. I want to remind everyone, for every position and program cut, there is a real person behind it. These professionals have dedicated their careers here, and we are shattering their livelihood, their family life, and I’m sure their mental well-being. This is simply not a good day.”
CEA and the ETA have been working to save every possible job but are also encouraging members facing layoffs to actively search for positions in other districts. CEA will be holding job search process workshops for Enfield teachers who are facing the elimination of their positions.
“Enfield has never seen cuts like this before, so we don’t know where to go from here, but we are going to continue to fight and continue to do what’s best for these kids in our town, and that’s all we can do,” said ETA President Emily Hulevitch.
