School Committee

Minutes of the Public Forum of the Salem School Committee Tuesday, November 25, 2025 79 Willson Street, Salem In-Person Meeting Members Present:​ ​ Mayor Pangallo, Vice Chair Cruz, AJ Hoffman, Beth Anne Cornell and Veronica Miranda Others in Attendance:​ Superintendent Stephen Zrike and Assistant Superintendent Pauley Members Absent:​ Amanda Campbell and Mary Manning Call of Meeting to Order​ ​ Mayor Pangallo called the meeting to order at 6:30 pm. Opening Updates​ Superintendent Zrike provided opening remarks. Superintendent Zrike highlighted the positive momentum in the district. Superintendent Zrike added that with the $4.5 - 5 million dollar budget deficit, the district is exploring elementary reconfiguration as a strategy to help balance the budget and sustain the work for years to come. Assistant Superintendent Pauley and Superintendent Zrike presented the elementary reconfiguration update slides. ​ Public Forum ​ Mayor Pangallo provided the guidelines for the public comment portion of the meeting and how to access Spanish as well as Portuguese interpretation. Vice Chair Cruz added that there have been a number of community meetings and offered to stay after the meeting in case anyone wanted to offer any comments in private. Erika Clifford, Horace Mann Laboratory School Parent​ Ms. Clifford wanted decisions made to reflect the real time operational and physical limitations of the Horace Mann site during the upcoming high school construction. With the proposed mergers, the Horace Mann student population would increase from about 300 to closer to 600 students bringing the student population closer to the size of the middle school. Ms. Clifford spoke about traffic issues and the traffic study that was conducted. Administrative resources, staffing, protected program spaces, scheduling will all be affected as well. Ms. Clifford requested for an updated site specific analysis including traffic design, construction staging and operational planning alongside enrollment and budget considerations at Horace Mann before a final vote is taken. Page 1 Jarred Damico, Carlton Innovation School Parent​ Mr. Damico said that the current operational planning has not yet shown that the district is ready to make this change in nine months without significant risk of disruption for students, families and educators. Mr. Damico added that families feel rushed, frustrated and confused about which information the School Committee is using to make a decision. They also don’t know how the School Committee is going to apply the feedback from the community to their decision-making. Mr. Damico implored the School Committee to hold another public meeting after December 1st so that the community has a chance to respond after hearing School Committee members deliberate for the first time. Mr. Damico also implored the district to create a reconfiguration workgroup with parents and educators from affected elementary schools. Mr. Damico requested the School Committee to prove to its constituents why permanently closing a school on this timeline justifies the risk to the community for limited budget savings. Kristen Linnenbank, Carlton Innovation School Parent Ms. Linnenbank spoke about her child’s experience at Carlton. Ms. Linnenbank expressed concern over delayed interventions, learning and lost learning time which will be difficult to make-up as students undergo the reconfiguration of schools. Ms. Linnenback hoped that another solution was found to avoid dismantling strong communities. Emma Logan, Horace Mann Laboratory School Parent Ms. Logan related how her child receives what is needed at Horace Mann. Ms. Logan expressed her concerns about how individualized supports at merged schools might be stretched too thin. Ms. Logan asked the School Committee to look at traffic, construction staging, safety, logistics, special education capacity, operational flow, staffing and program space. Heather McClain, Horace Mann Laboratory School Parent​ Ms. McClain recounted her own experience studying at Salem Public Schools as well as her child who attends Horace Mann. Ms. McClain said that the reconfiguration will create a significant culture change for the schools involved. A lot of work is needed to build a shared culture. Ms. McClain thanked the School Committee members and Superintendent Zrike for keeping the importance of culture in mind. Rachel Ellyon, Horace Mann Laboratory School Educator​ Ms. Ellyon, a Stride classroom educator at Horace Mann provided some background of how the Stride classrooms started in the district. Ms. Ellyson continued to relate the experience of the Stride classroom when the Bowditch School was closed and some of the students were moved to Witchcraft Heights Elementary School. Ms. Ellyson said that there would be a greater need for bathrooms and longer lines for the bathroom if more students are added to Horace Mann. Ms. Ellyson added that Stride classrooms have fewer students and this is so because more space is needed due to the students’ needs. Ray Jerzylo, Salem Resident​ ​ Mr. Jerzylo said Salem taxpayers are being asked to vote on a tax override to fund the new high school. Mr. Jerzylo highlighted that radon gas testing has been overlooked in the design plans Page 2 for the new high school which could cost the city money. Mr. Jerzylo urged everyone to contact their City Councillors about this matter. Meghan Stasio, Saltonstall School Parent Ms. Stasio said this is Saltonstall School families’ first year of fully adjusting to a K-5 structure. Ms. Stasio continued that Saltonstall has already undergone multiple changes through the years. Ms. Stasio said that adapting to changes takes time and families feel blindsided by the speed of the process and lack of clear timely communication. Ms. Stasio asked that Saltonstall be allowed to keep their building. Julia Dyroff, Carlton Innovation School Parent Ms. Dyroff spoke about her children’s experience at Carlton and the school community at Horace Mann. Ms. Dyroff said the consultants did not engage the parents in conversations in 2021 and 2024 about closing an elementary school. Ms. Dyroff asked to slow down, make a real plan and include families as well as educators in the conversation. Ms. Dyroff added that a hasty decision now would cost us dearly. Tim Flynn, Ward 4 Councillor-Elect​ Mr. Flynn spoke about the stressful time in 2018 when the Bowditch School was closed. Mr. Flynn asked Mayor Pangallo, School Committee members and Superintendent Zrike to speak to the educators at Witchcraft Heights Elementary School because the transition is not as smooth as it looks on paper or slides. Mr. Flynn said that there will be more students in Salem who will need these schools. Mr. Flynn continued to relate his personal experience and requested the School Committee to slow down. Wilma Avila, Early Childhood Center and Horace Mann Laboratory School Parent​ Ms. Avila said the traffic coming into Horace Mann is unbearable and that adding more students would be really difficult. Ms. Avila suggested adding another entrance. Ms. Avila continued to relate her experience commuting between schools to transport her children. Ms. Availa said that parents need to come together to make sure that the transition team to oversee the merger is happening. Cameron Hart, Carlton Innovation School Educator​ ​ Mr. Hart, who is a former Carlton student, related his personal experience. Mr. Hart urged the School Committee to reconsider and not rush to a decision. Ted Burnham, Carlton Innovation School and Early Childhood Center Parent Mr. Burnham said that parents are not against reconfiguration but what they have been told is that it is driven by a budget concern which the reconfiguration does not solve. It also does not support the long term vision of the Salem Public Schools. Mr. Burnham added that it would be easier to talk about reconfiguration if it were tied to the long term vision. Mr. Burnham hoped that at the December 1st meeting, there will be some new information. Closing​ Mayor Pangallo closed the meeting. Page 3 ​ Adjournment​ Vice Chair Cruz made a motion to adjourn at 7:56 pm. Member Cornell seconded and it was so VOTED. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted by, Shirley Dorai ​ ​ ​ Executive Assistant to the School Committee & Superintendent Page 4  Elementary Reconfiguration Updates November 25, 2025 Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation What is Happening? Right now, Salem schools are facing major funding issues. ● It costs more than ever to run schools, however we do not receive enough funding from the state. ● Funding for our schools comes from the city and state. ○ Salem Public Schools staff create a budget request based on program needs. ○ The City identifies the percentage increase for the School Department; most of SPS funding comes from the city of Salem. ○ The School Committee approves the budget & sends it to City Council for final approval. ● Last year, expenses were more than our budget, leaving us with a budget gap of $4.9M; we needed to cut 56.5 positions. What is Happening? ● Next year, we expect to be $4.5M to $5M short. One of our biggest problems is “Chapter 70” funding. ● This is the main source of state funding. ● Chapter 70 is a formula based on student enrollment, demographics, & a city’s ability to pay for its schools. The formula has not kept pace with increasing costs. ● Salem does not receive as much money as we need, & we pay more than cities similar to us. The District needs to find ways to reduce costs and to offer ALL students high-quality education. What Are Our Options? SPS has several ways to address the budget, but none of them are easy. Options could include: • Reducing district staff • Reducing non-classroom positions in schools • Increasing class sizes • Increasing caseloads for staff serving multilingual learners and students with disabilities • Closing Pre-K classrooms • Reducing/sharing special programming like art and music • Reducing transportation • Merging (or “reconfiguring”) elementary schools What Are Our Options? None of these options alone would fix the budget. • However, a combination of options could make a large impact. • The district needs to consider options that help the budget now and in the future. We are also advocating for more Chapter 70 funding. See slide 30 in the appendix for more information. Why Reconfiguration? SPS is asking the School Committee to consider “reconfiguring” elementary schools. ● Salem has more school buildings than most other towns/cities of our size. ○ School buildings are very expensive to operate. For each building, we need to pay for utilities, repairs, non-classroom staffing, and more. ● We have over 200 empty seats across our elementary schools. ● We also have enough unused classrooms to fit another 1,300+ students. Comparisons ● The average size of a MA elementary school is 428 students ● Districts with between 3500-4500 students in MA have on average 7.5 schools Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Our Goals We understand that conversations about the budget and school reconfiguration are very hard. • Nobody at SPS wants to cut costs or cause disruption for kids or families. • However, if we don’t act, we won’t have enough money to run our schools. As we look at the budget, we are committed to the following goals: • To elevate the learning experience of every student • To advance our core value of equity • To ensure long-term financial sustainability • To engage with parents, school staff, and the community to find the best possible solution. Reconfiguration Scenarios Scenario 1 Scenario 4 Saltonstall & Horace Mann merge at Horace Mann building Carlton & Saltonstall schools merge at Saltonstall building Saltonstall building is repurposed rather than closed Carlton building offline or becomes early childhood center Scenario 2 Scenario 5 Saltonstall & Horace Mann merge at Horace Mann Carlton & Horace Mann merge at Horace Mann building AND Carlton building offline or becomes early childhood center Bentley moves into Saltonstall building Bentley/ECC building becomes early childhood center Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation What We’re Hearing The main themes and questions we are hearing about are as follows: • Traffic • Class size • Larger elementary schools consolidation • Learning models • School choice options • Timeline • Transition What Happens Next ● School Committee discussions ● Scheduled to discuss and vote at December meetings. Decide on– ○ one of the options recommended ○ another option ○ or no change What Happens Next ● Transition team to oversee merger ● Series of transition events ● Commit to specific resources needed to assist with transition ● No changes to any services for students on IEPs/504 plans affected by mergers ● Commit to maintain unique traditions ● Metrics to monitor outcomes Final Reflections ● Continue to respond to questions via reconfiguration@salemk12.org and meet with families, staff and community organizations ● Slides 14-39 (appendix) are from the presentation that was delivered at the first Community Meeting on 11.17.25 Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation  Elementary Reconfiguration Updates November 17, 2025 Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Reconfiguration Scenarios Scenario 1 Scenario 4 Saltonstall & Horace Mann merge at Horace Mann building Carlton & Saltonstall schools merge at Saltonstall building Saltonstall building is repurposed rather than closed Carlton building offline or becomes early childhood center Scenario 2 Scenario 5 Saltonstall & Horace Mann merge at Horace Mann Carlton & Horace Mann merge at Horace Mann building AND Carlton building offline or becomes early childhood center Bentley moves into Saltonstall building Bentley/ECC building becomes early childhood center Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Reflections Themes in Feedback ● Goals: ○ Elevate the learning ● More information about experience for every the SPS projected deficit student ● What are the alternatives to ○ Advance our core value of school mergers? ● Traffic equity ● Class size and building ○ Ensure long-term fiscal utilization sustainability ● Benefits from larger ● Scenarios ruled out dispersal of elementary consolidation students ● Supporting students, staff and families through a ● Commitment to engaging the transition public with data, reasoning, and opportunities for discussion Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Traffic Concerns ● Start and end times would need to be staggered between HMLS and SHS. ● Traffic study conducted in Dec. 2024 matches the number of students who are projected to access the site if there is a merger. ● HS project will adjust traffic patterns ● More analysis and consultation is necessary to develop a plan that reduces congestion. Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Class Sizes ● The ‘minimum full’ capacity is smaller than the current assignment practice. ● The ‘maximum full’ capacity reflects the contractual maximum. ● Currently, we are not projecting an increase in elementary class sizes with our merger scenarios. ● We are not suggesting merging/altering substantially separate classrooms. Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Overall Elementary Utilization and Capacity Current Empty Seats in Estimated # number of Total number of unused Enrollment Existing unused classroom seats at an average of 23 Classrooms spaces across students per classroom elementary schools K-5 1,901 218 60 1380 *Total # of available elementary seats- 218 + 1380= 1598 available seats Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Benefits of Larger Elementary Schools ● Increased educator collaboration across grade levels ● Ability to strategically assign students ● Service providers and specialists do not need to travel, providing stronger connection to each community ● Resource efficiency allows for investing in more robust programs at each school for students ● Smaller footprint for the central office ● Capital $s allocated across fewer buildings Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Comparisons ● The average size of a MA elementary school is 428 students ● Districts with between 3500-4500 students in MA have on average 7.5 schools Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation If the School Committee Votes to Merge a School Supporting Families and Supporting Staff Students ● Transition team to oversee merger ● The majority of staff will have a role in the merged building. ● Series of transition events ● All staff with professional status will ● Commit to specific resources needed to continue to have a role in SPS assist with transition ● We will work to find a role for any staff ● No changes to any services for students member in good standing without on IEPs/504 plans affected by mergers professional status somewhere in SPS. ● Commit to maintain unique traditions ● We will engage in 1 to 1 planning ● Metrics to monitor outcomes conversations with affected staff ● Prioritize families from merging school who want to make alternative assignment choices For planning and effective implementation a decision by end of December is highly preferred Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Budget Context Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation  FY26 Overview Reminder: FY26 ❏ 4.8% increase (+$3,580,445.57) ❏ Complicated architecture ❏ Looked for efficiencies $78,173,061 ❏ Using recurring revenue to reduce expenses ❏ Position reductions & Non-Personnel reductions ❏ 56.5 positions are being eliminated 24 Appropriation vs. Actual Expenses ❏ Before reductions & offsets, Personnel & $83,238,991.45 Non-Personnel costs FY26 actual will be ~$4.9M above the appropriation expenses ❏ +6% above the appropriation Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Budget Context: It’s Complicated Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Where does SPS funding come from? Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Salem’s expected local contribution is among the highest for Gateway Cities ● Maximum local contribution is 82.5% ● For the 26 Gateway cities, target local share ranges from 14.93% (Springfield) to Barnstable & Quincy (82.50%) ● Salem’s target local share is 71.46% (185% of the average) ○ 10% decline in target state aid share in the last three years Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation CH70 & Salem ● 2019: Student Opportunity Act & it was identified that Salem would receive less ● Salem leaders have been actively trying to address the CH70 formula ● CH70 commission is now evaluating the formula Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation What We What we don’t Know/Assume yet know: about next ● ● CH70 for FY27 ( January) AFSCME salaries (negotiations year: ● this year) Increases to major cost drivers: ○ Special Education OOD ● STU, PSRP, SAA salaries tuition ● 3.5% increases to most ○ Transportation– Regular non-personnel lines Day & Homeless ● What shifts/expansion will be ● Budget increase will be needed for Special Education consistent with budget ● Federal funding changes increases in FY25 & FY26 ● Inflation/cost increases Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Personnel, Non-Personnel & Total Budgets Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Annual Budget Increases Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation FY26 and FY27: Actual & Est. Assuming a typical or (slightly higher than typical) budget increase, the estimated gap +$8,790,208.58 will be ~$4.5-~$5 million Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation What drives our costs? Intentional Choices: ● Paying competitive wages to staff (recruitment & retention) ● Average salary increases (step & COLA) in FY26 were significant & overdue: ■ SAA: +5% ■ STU: +10% ■ PSRP: +15% ● Operating costs from maintaining 8 buildings External Factors: Rising costs ● Rising utilities costs ● Rising costs for out-of-district placements ● Rising costs for transportation Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation What have we done to close budget gaps? ● Annually offset gaps (ESSER, reserves, revenue, prepayment); ● Reduce positions 4 years in a row (56.5 positions in FY26); ● Expand in-house capacity to better meet student needs: ○ 2018: 19 Special Education programs ○ 2025-2026: 31 ● Actively seek grant funding: in FY25, 50 FTEs fully/partially funded by grants; ● Participate DESE/ERS learning cohort to look for research based & effective budgeting strategies. Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation No great options for closing $4.5-$5M gap: Gap in FY26 was $4.9M, resulting in 56.5 position cuts (including vacancies, retirements, & voluntary departures) Options this year: ● Reduce district-level staff ($235,000) ● Reduce school level admins & non-classroom positions ($1,136,166) ● Increase class size up to the contract limit (25) ($884,264) ● Reconfigure High School schedule ($700,000) ● Increasing caseloads for MLs & Students with Disabilities (~$175,000) ● Sharing elementary specialists across schools ($340,000) ● Close PreK classrooms ($279,480) ● Reducing non-required stipends ($550,000) ● Reduce non personnel expenses ($345,248) ● Reduce transportation (~$375,000) ● Merge schools ($1,300,000) Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation  Next steps: the FY27 Budget Process What we know What we are modeling? ● SPS has had a ● What is the minimum number structural deficit that of cuts that can be made? has necessitated cuts ● What non-personnel cuts can for the last 4 budget cycles we make (e.g. non-mandatory ● Costs are rising transportation)? ● SPS will have another ● How to make the most of our sizable gap in FY27 resources to deliver the ● There will be budget highest quality education to all cuts students? Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation Final Reflections ● Provide childcare at Horace Mann on Tuesday, November 25 @ 6:30 pm ● Working on scheduling a Spanish speaking forum ● Continue to respond to questions via reconfiguration@salemk12.org and meet with families, staff and community organizations Elevate Learning • Empower Educators • Center Belonging • Strengthen Our Foundation