Hello. Is anyone ready to start? Please everyone take a seat. >> I call this meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. Um, may I have called Veronica? >> Mr. Small >> Mr.
Enriquez, >> Mr. President, >> Miss Dr. Neville, >> Miss Hernandez present
two. >> Thank you. Everyone, I'm going to start off by my opening comments, remarks. Um, on behalf of the school committee, I want to thank everyone for being here tonight. We know that many members of our community care
deeply about our schools, our students, and the people we serve. We serve them. Your presence reflects that commitment and we appreciate the engagement. As many of you know, this meeting was rescheduled from last week due to the
size of the crowd and the difficulty in maintaining a space where the meeting could proceed in a safe and ordinary manner, orderly manner. Tonight we have reconvened to continue this important work and we ask for everyone's
cooperation so that we can conduct the meeting in a way that is respectful, professional and productive. We also want to acknowledge that this is a very difficult moment for our district. The proposed budget includes reductions that
affect members of our school community, including educators who work with our students every day. These are not easy conversations and we recognize that emotions are high. The people in the room care deeply about
Chelsea students and schools and that passion is understandable. At the same time, the school committee has a responsibility to conduct the district business in a way that allows all voices to be heard while ensuring the meeting can move forward. We ask
that everyone treat one another with respect, including speakers, staff, and members of the public. We will follow the rules for public comment and ask the remarks remain focused and respectful.
Our shared goal tonight should be to engage in a thoughtful discussion about the budget and the difficult decisions before us while keeping our focus where it belongs on the students and the families of Chelsea. Thank you for your
cooperation and your commitment to our schools. I will now turn this over to Dr. our superintendent Dr. Alvea for opening her opening remarks. At the moment of comments, I will read the guidelines for the opening for the
comments. Okay. Thank you so much everyone for being here. >> Thank you, Chair Hernandez. Um, first I want to thank everyone for being here tonight. I would like to take a moment to explain why I was not present at last Thursday's meeting. In the six and a
half years that I have served this district, I have never missed a school committee meeting. Being present for this work has always been very important to me. Last Thursday, however, I was unable to attend due to a family
emergency. So, comments were later shared suggesting that my absence meant I was avoiding the meeting or unwilling to face difficult conversations taking place. I want to gently clarify that
this was not the case. My father who has been battling cancer for the past year is very sick and last week my family had to make some incredibly difficult decisions and I
needed to be with him. As many of you understand, when a loved one is facing serious illness, every moment together matters. Like many of you, I hold many roles in my life. In addition to serving this
district, I am a wife, a mother, and a daughter. I appreciate the understanding that families sometimes require our attention during difficult moments. I also want to acknowledge that this is an incredibly difficult time for our
district. The budget shortfall we are facing means that valued colleagues, people who care deeply about our students are losing their jobs. That is painful and Emotions across our community are understandably high. As we continue tonight's meeting, I hope we
can approach the conversations with respect for one another. We may not always agree, and that is okay. But we can work through these challenges with professionalism and care.
And for the adults in this room, it is important to remember that our students are watching us. They learn from how we speak to one another and how we handle difficult moments. Thank you. >> We're going to start our meeting today
with our first item, which is the school choice for 2026 27 school year. And I will hand it once again over to Dr. Alena. We will take care of that item and then move on to the budget.
School choice means that the school committee is voting to accept students from other districts. Um, historically we have not accepted students from other districts because of our u our high enrollment. So tonight we have to vote
if we will accept students from other districts and the implications that that would have or if we vote you would vote no going. Sorry. We're going to open up for public comment on the school choice se
section of our agenda. Does anyone here have a comment they'd like to make on this um on the school choice? If so, raise your hand. Please come up to the microphone. Thank you. State your name, please. You don't have to state your address or any of the
above. Just your name. Hi, I'm Yaki Gonzalez and my question is why would we do this other than money? >> What would that mean for our students? I know money money makes things move,
but not focusing on our kids here is also not working for our kids, adding new kids, taking away social workers, adding new kids, putting AI as a social worker for our kids to deal with. And
we're going to add strangers. AI is like autism. They often don't pick up social cues. >> Just so you know, we always vote no. We have never brought in kids from another city. >> I'm I'm not we have to vote. >> This we have to vote on every year,
>> right? It's not an accusation. It's a question. No, no. And I understand what I like to explain to everyone to explain to everyone was that we always this committee is at least at the time I've been here, >> everyone, we've always voted no. We've
never brought in kids from any other city >> to study here. I don't think that's healthy for our children's mental health. Bringing in outsiders when we still haven't figured out how we're going to function as a community who has been stolen a percentage of our people
because they didn't leave, they were stolen from us. Our children are affected even though they're not migrants because their best friend might have been taken away because their best friend might be sitting in a cage and they haven't dealt
with that and AI is not going to fix that and new strangers is not going to better it. Let's focus on the kids we have here before we start bringing our city problems. >> We totally agree with you. Thank you.
Um, we totally agree. At least I totally agree. >> I understand. I have utmost respect for all of you up there. But right now, the only hat I wear is that of a parent. I am not a teacher. I am not a city
educator. I am not the snack lady. I am not the library lady. I am a parent and foremost. And I don't feel like that would be a good choice for our children. Does anyone else comment for this section?
This is purely for the choice the school choice. Does anyone else have a comment? >> I want to I'm going to ask that we stick with this. >> Yes. Yes. School choice. >> So we can move on to Yeah. I think that one of the things my name is Anita, one
of the social workers here at the high school. Good evening. Thank you for listening. Um I think there's another perspective which is we have had at least at the in the ELLL department a lot of students and families who have not been able to afford staying in Chelsea and unfortunately have had to move to Lynon or Malden or other cities
and they have built relationships with support staff and teachers here and unfortunately there are other schools where they don't get the same support. So, I'm kind of bragging about the support that we provide our students here. And part of me is like, yeah, I would like to see some of the students that I had to say goodbye to that I
would love to continue to support, but they're not here. And the only reason they're not here is because they live in a separate address. I just wanted to share that perspective. Not trying to sway one way or another, but I wanted to share that we have unfortunately lost a lot of students simply because Chelsea
is way too expensive. And it's not because students and families want. I think I think all of us can agree that this community is amazing and the community is made by families, by
parents, by staff, by admin that value what living and working in Chelsea is. That's all. Thank you. Thank you. >> Any other comments? Okay, we'll move on to the vote. >> Um, so I learned a little bit about
school choice this year and I learned that it was designed in such a way that uh to actually uh prevent districts from using it as a way to bring in revenue. So you only get $5,000 per student if you do it. Um, so it wouldn't really help us very much necessarily with their
budget shorts. I also totally understand, you know, there's a lot of students who move out of Kelsey and they they might want to stay. Um, I was wondering what our superintendent's recommendation is for school choice this year. >> I would recommend that we vote no.
Any other questions? I'm sorry for not asking questions. >> So, I also want to um put some things into perspective as far as is concerned. Um, while it is very sad to see our
students go, I also would like for people to think about if changing, right, the district circumstances, what would the case load be, right? How would we get the students here? What
would that look like? So, while I would love for us not to lose students to other districts, and I recognize that housing and mobility rate is an issue, that will also open up a bigger topic of
conversation. Um, so that is something that we would need to um just put into perspective. So, there is a reason why it is the way we have voted the way that we voted um as far as the districts are
concerned. Um so Okay, we will close this portion of the meeting. Um we're actually not voting today. I was I misunderstood that. Um, so we'll move on to the next subject which is the
budget. I will hand this over to Dr. Ala now and she will pursue There. There we go. All right. Thank you. Great. So, thank you for coming tonight. Um, we will try to get through this as quickly as we can because we
know everybody's willing to make comments and so, um, I'm going to go ahead and start and then I'm going to turn it over to members of our cabinet. So, our agenda for tonight is we'll go over our mission and strategy, our budget development timeline, funding for
public education, factors influencing this year's next year's budget, our expenditure forecast, and steps to balance the budget. I'm sure all of you know our mission statement is that we are a gateway school system that welcomes and educates
all students and families. And this is actually more important today than ever. This is our strategic plan. It has five key priority areas. This was created several years ago and we took a
lot of survey feedback information with small groups to create this strategic plan. And these were the five priority areas that popped. This strategic plan is hopefully you've seen it in our school but it really guides our work and
it it guides every decision that we make. This is our north star. Here is the budget development timeline that we've had that first the budget is based on enrollment numbers and part of
the reason why we have a shortfall is because we have 350 students less this year for every student we get about $19,000. So $19,000 times 350 you can do the math.
So that happens we we report those budget numbers in October to DESIE and then there's update existing costs for inflation. We have to budget in and when we look at our budget we look at all the
costs and then we the the budget governor the governor's budget drops in January and January numbers from the governor and then we That's when we start our budget process.
And right now we are in the area of number four where we are balancing and making critical decisions about our budget. And then there will be a vote on March 26 to approve the budget.
So the factors influencing this budget are the main one is we have less students. We also had an expiration of the ESR funding which is from the pandemic. We received millions of dollars with the
pandemic. During the pandemic, we hired many of our staff during the pandemic. Unfortunately, we are not able to hold on to all of the staff that we hired right now. Then we have student opportunity act
funding offset by enrollment reduction. There is rising salary expenditures, increasing charter school tuition obligations. We have escalating healthc care insurance costs, higher transportation expenses, and
growing special education tuition costs. So these factors here are what is influencing our budget. And then I I wanted to show this because you can see our enrollment trends over the years.
Where it's circle 225, that is the enrollment number of October of this past this school year. We had 5,749 students. That is a drop from the year of previous year of 6,100.
So this 2025 number is what the governor based the governor's numbers is based on that we receive and that's why we have a budget shortfall now and looking at projections for next
year we can see that next year for 2026 we're looking at another drop in enrollment numbers So we have to be fiscally prudent. This enrollment decline is not just in
Chelsea. This is nationwide and it's also communities in Chelsea and in particular it's in our gateway city districts. In Chelsea we lost 350 students. Framingham lost 584 students. Lynn lost
435 students. Everett lost 339 students. Marboro lost 337 and Holio lost 184. Massachusetts as a state lost 15,442 students this year.
and districts with large multilingual populations like Chelsea, Everett, Firmingham, Lynn, and Broson saw the largest enrollment drops. So, I'm going to go ahead and turn it over to our CFO, Billy Joe.
Hi, the slide with the expenditure breakdown explains the type of costs that we face as a school district. We have salaries with raises, employee benefits such as health insurance, facilities, information technology,
professional development, special education other than labor which is out of district tuition, supplies, books, equipment, transportation and utilities. The next slide, which is a baseline
expenditure forecast. This slide shows you how we begin the budget process early in January and we update all known expenses. We add all of the salary raises, health care cost increases, transportation cost
increases, any contractual increase, and then we get a preliminary number of what we're going to um have to find um cuts for. So, our original number was 11.6 million.
In February and March, as we continue to go through our cost adjustments, we realized that that deficit had increased to 13 million with no additional increases to revenue. So, this resulted in an $8.6 million deficit after we got
the additional revenue from the state and the city. So, our deficit starting well in March is $ 8.6 million. Next slide, please. This slide is showing that the first step when you're adjust um adapting to a
new budget cycle is to dig into your salaries. As you can see, when we dig duck into our 80% of um staffing, we find that 80% is staffing cost, but we have I'm going to ball off the stage. 4%
of that is administration, 73% is educators, 10% is pupils and 5% is facilities. So if you can see we have most of our people in the schools directly dealing with children. Thank you so much. So I'm not going to
read the slides, but I did prepare remarks that go with the slides. My name is Michelle Martinelloo. I am one of the assistant superintendent. I've had the privilege of serving Chelsea for the last 20 plus years. Um, and before we talk about numbers, I want to start with what we heard in our listening sessions.
As someone who is school who's been school-based for over 20 years, first as a teacher and later as a principal, I've lived this work alongside staff, students, and families. These aren't abstract priorities. And I think one thing we can all come back to is this.
The best part of this work and the best part of our district is our students, many of whom I've had the pleasure of working with and some of whom are even in this room today. Next slide, please. Moving forward, it's important to ground
us in where we've been over the past five years. From 2020 to 2025 2026, we made deliberate investments in our schools. As a principal during that time, I saw firsthand what that meant. More support for our students, more
adults in classrooms, and stronger systems overall. This chart shows the progression over the course of the years. In 2020, we had 6,257 students, 460 teachers,
130 paraprofessionals, 20.5 school-based clerks, and 8.5 district clerks. As you can see, the numbers going up to end the years in 2026. Today, unfortunately, we have 508 fewer
students, but we do have 239 more staff than where we started in 2020. Over the last 5 years, while enrollment has declined, staffing has increased. These investments are intentional and necessary given where but given where we
are now, we need to re-evaluate and prioritize to the reality we are navigating. And I think we can all agree that this is something we do not want to be doing. Next slide, please. We also looked at district level staffing over the same time period.
Overall, this reflects an increase of about 12 positions. These additions were primarily in areas like student services, mental health, curriculum, and compliance to to support the work that we were doing in our schools.
Next slide please. This chart brings the full picture together. You can see the steady growth in staffing while at the same time and very unfortunate enrollment has declined. Ultimately, we now have a larger system serving fewer students.
That's the reality we're all being asked to respond to. And I'll close by saying none of this is easy because we're talking about the lives of students. we care deeply about and have grown to love. Um, Adam Delaney will be sharing the
next. >> Thank you, Miss Marlo. And I'll just start by saying um really I know I speak for a lot of people. I really appreciate the numbers that are out here. It says a lot about how the Chelsea community values education and particularly our
school system. So hopefully through these previous slides we understand we have a job to do. We do have a budget that we need to balance. So how are we going to do that? This image just kind of shows big picture that on the right side things like spent tuition,
transportation, health care, uh payroll costs, all those things currently right now are outweighing the money that we're bringing in, including grants, chapter 70 funding, which is our state funding and our city contribution, which we are grateful that they were able to
increase. So, as you can see, it's currently unbalanced. So, how are we going to balance that? Next slide, please. So, what we're proposing here in this budget is looking at schoolbased staff
uh at a savings of about $6.8 million and district level staff at about $1.7 million. That equates to respectively 80% and 20% of the budget deficit.
So, just as a reminder, the FY26, which is the current budget that we're living in right now. We're in school year 2526. Going into this year, we made about 1.3 million worth of cuts on the district level. Um, we reduced professional
development. We had a deep contract uh that we saved $40,000. Um, we cut our FE tutoring online services at the tune of about 146,000. Reduced staffing in HR. We lost a recruitment retention specialist. Uh we
reduced a mediation special or two mediation specialists. Uh we cut our triangle contract which is a special education contract. We cut a clerk at Webster AB location, two translators for special education, a braille teacher
which we no longer needed. Uh we cut $300,000 in extraordinary maintenance. We cut our reach director as well as um in information uh technology. We had a shift in carrier services which saved 100,000. We also reduced staffing and
curriculum and instruction with a literacy director. That was $1.3 million already going into this year. So if you combine this year and what we're proposing is $1.7 million on the districtwide end to
add up to just over $3 million on the district side and then we're looking at $6.8 million on the schoolbased side. So we did not make any cuts at the schools last year. We balanced the budget by reducing at the district level. District
level staff is 4% of the entire district's budget. Our school-based educators are 73% of the district's budget. What we're suggesting for this year on the district is cutting mentor lead stip and lead
stiping stipens at the tune of about $100,000 savings. cutting our sped out of district tuition at about $200,000. District contracted services for wellness equity, we utilize Blackprint for our professional development and a
company called Engaging STO schools. So, we're saving $100,000 there. Um, in our contracted services and stipens for our extended learning time, that's out of school before school vacation school. Uh, we cut $100,000 there. district
contracted services in HR where we do some uh analysis. Uh there's $50,000. Um and then district extraordinary maintenance for building and grounds, that's 362,000. And that's non- staff cuts. As we look at the district-wide staff cuts that
we're proposing, we're looking at one human resource specialist, one budget administrator, one principal clerk in the business office, one web master, two directors,
an assistant principal, and we also utilize some retired administrative support uh from retired administrators who come in and fill in for, you know, assistant principles on maternity believe we're cutting that value by $100,000.
So with that, I'm going to turn it right back over to our CFO, Billy Joe Turner. Thank you. So the next slides are going to summarize the cuts that were selected at the schools with the principal and school site councils. The first school
is the early childhood center. The school budget reductions would be two ACE par profofessionals, six classroom power professionals, one coach, the Solowski budget reductions. Well,
prior to this, I'll say that the elementary schools worked together. So, um, a few of their cuts were shared positions. So, you may see, um, some fives here. It's because they are shared positions. But with Kalowski, budget
reductions include um a digital literacy coach.5 a.5 tech specialist teacher, a PAR funded by a special ed budget, an MLE, a grade two, three and four teacher,
a 0.25 of a librarian, and three tutors. The Kelly budget reductions include a digital literacy coach.5 a.5 of a technology specialist a 0.25 of a librarian,
two tutors, an MLE teacher, two paraprofessionals, and also a reduction of a non salary cost which is called imagine learning platform. The burkowitz budget reductions include one reading teacher, a.5 digital
literacy coach, a powerup funded by a special ed budget, a 0.5 of a technology specialist teacher, again a grade two, three, and four teacher, a 0.25 librarian, and four tutors.
The Hooks School budget reductions include a shared digital literacy coach, a shared technology specialist, a grade two, three, and four teacher, a PAR funded by the special ed budget, a
shared librarian.25, four tutors, and a reading specialist. The middle schools, the first middle school is the clock school budget reduction. There is there will be a reduction of three foundation teachers
requested a unified arts specialist teacher history a content literacy coach and two par profofessionals. The WSTA budget reductions include a
learn incentive teacher, a learn incentive par, a library par professionals, a classroom power professional, a a reduction of special ed teachers, four of them, with an adback of an interventionist
and also a reduction of an instructional coach.5. The Brown School budget reductions include a life teacher, two MLE teachers, one special ed lio teacher, a
history teacher, a unified art teacher, college readiness, and an MLE coach.5. The Chelsea High School budget reductions include two English teachers, two math teachers, two science teachers,
eight MLE teachers, two counselors, one social worker, and one history teacher. The CBLA budget reductions includes 1.5 special ed teacher,
five MLE teacher, and one power professional. The COA budget reduction includes one person and the remaining budget meetings include Thursday, March 19th and
Thursday, March 2. I will now move on to questions from the school committee as they may have. Can you please raise your hand? Anyone who want to ask question and I will call on you. testing. Okay, great. Thank you
everyone. Good evening. My name is Katy Gaval. For those who don't know me, um I want to thank everyone for being present here today. I am the atlarge member here on Chelsea School Committee as well as a
2016 CPS alumni. So, this is very uh personal to me as we discuss these um as we discuss the budget this year. And I'm looking forward to hearing the voices of many of our community members here. Um I want to thank our office staff for
preparing this presentation. And I also want to thank Dr. Abda for her advocacy um with the city to continue to um advocate for more resources. So, I I just want to um share my thanks um our team
with that. Um I just have a couple questions. Um I've been reading a couple of um uh news articles across the Commonwealth. As we mentioned today, these um enrollment dips and these budget cuts are not only facing our
community. These are this this is a challenge that many communities are facing across the Commonwealth. And with that, um, I know there is anticipated, um, reductions in title one funding as well. And so I wanted to ask, um, does
this also take into consideration the reductions to title one grants? >> Thank you, Chair Paci, for asking that question. It does. So we found out about two weeks ago that there was a 10% reduction in Title One. And so we have
we have worked through Title fun to make shifts here and there. That way we would not reduce more staff. Thank you so much. I appreciate you. Testing, testing. Hi, good evening everyone. Jake Small, I represent District 8. Um, I want to echo
Hernandez's um comments in the beginning. Gratitude for everyone who showed up today. Thank you so much for being here. Um we have a few more questions on the school committee and then we're getting to an opportunity for folks to share uh what's on their hearts and minds, which I believe is maybe one
of the most important parts of tonight's agenda. Um I also want to take a moment to thank Dr. Beta and the entire district team for putting together this presentation. um thorough and represents an iterative process over the last several weeks and honestly several months of planning and strategy
recognizing that we've known about the shop enrollment for a while. You'll have working hard so thank you so much for your efforts there. Um I have a question first on uh personnel and staffing. Um it's clear from one of the slides that we have made significant investments in
personnel. uh 38% increase over the last five years in schoolbased positions, 20% increase over the last five years in district positions. Um so a sort of two-part question. How has increased school-based staff
impacted the student experience from your perspective? But then also how has increased district staff impacted operational capacity? Basically on the district side, what have we been able to do uh with the increased staff that we
have and also what are the students experiencing with more teachers, more educators and more student facing professionals in the classroom. >> Thank you for your question. I know that we for example we added parents to all of our first grade classrooms and former
first grade kindergarten teacher being the only teacher in a first grade classroom is a lot. So, we're committed to adding carers to many of our early college our early learning center classrooms because we know that it is
important to have more than one adult in those classrooms. We've also focused on special education inclus inclusion. And so what we're seeing is often times two to two to three adults and teachers are parents in a classroom so that
students have more individualized experiences at the district level. One area that is our priority was to increase access and opportunity. And so we did we had after
school accordingly here years ago from when I told before I got here and that was cut um when I arrived. So we reinstated that position. So for those of you who know um Mr. Malachi who's around here um he's a he's a
little old but as a result of having he oversees that entire priority of extended learning increasing access and opportunity we now have partnerships with the Boston Children's Choir. We have partnerships with Girls on the Run.
We have partnerships with the Museum of Science. We have Twilight School. We have Saturday school. All of these programs come out of our extended learning programs. So, we've been able to expand the day for our students. Uh
we've strengthened for kids only through with the extra fun. So, there's a lot of additional things that we've been able to do. We added a communications director 5 years ago. um that was critical during CO because we couldn't
manage the crisis without having someone to help with the communication. And so we now have a communications director to help through critical moments to also push good news out about what's happening in the classrooms and in our
schools and and those are are pretty vital important positions. Um five years ago we added an equity officer who is now chief of and equity and wellness Dr. Aaron Jennings and we've provided professional development about diversity
and educa um equity and belonging. These are the things that we're able to do because we have certain people and certain positions strategically. Good evening everyone again district 5. Um and I do have um several
questions um that were raised within the constituents that I have um just general um questions. So I'm going to fire away um given information that has been
provided. I did want to um gain a little bit more clarity as far as and obviously a lot of thought has been put into the information before us for multiple reasons.
We have come a long way as a district especially for the schools that have or were um under um the need improvement status. we have um
we we we surpassed that right some of us got moved away from that um so a lot of the pressing question was how are we going to go ahead and do that and I saw within the budget that was presented to us that because of our now existing
student ratio um per teacher uh student ratio that still able to both give those give our parents to teach us students the a level of care and
education um and continue to do that we are given a certain level of mobility um you know rate which I don't think everyone is aware of um especially here um but a question that kept on coming up
was how are we going continue to support our students. Um and and we heard the the changes that were going to happen. I know that our book said that there was restructuring um within the schools, but um and I know that that
autonomy was also done within um school side council. I know that there was a lot of behind the scenes work that has been done. it just hasn't been discussed a thousand% here right now. Um, and I think that that's something that people
might want a little bit more clarity to and I think that it would help um to to gain that because I know that we're also providing a lot of that information. Um, there was a lot of um questions around some of the services that we um that we
provide as far as like services and some of the additional support that um you know in my opinion instrumental not because I you know some some people mention AI but
it's more like I as a as a parent also you know use it with my children um for mental health services. So again that's something that's very unique and personal um for each family
but um the tier one instruction um and how that coaching aspects will be um utilized or continued or what's going to replace um so I don't think that the
whole is presented per se um so for those more data driven or more visually uh inclined I think that would be more um helpful to to to see or to know um
and again we presented multiple um meetings and hearings just to kind of gain information and traction and I don't think that that's you know the full scope of things are here. That's that's something that people kind
of want to know like how are we going to continue to get that support going forward and then what's going to happen to the positions that were um restructured and how did that determination come about as positions
either discontinued or while we figure out funding >> I think for your So, one of the things is we do have lower student enrollment and we're actually over staff right now and so
some districts within state of Massachusetts actually made we did not do that and so technically we're over staffed. If you look at the positions a lot of them have to do with bilingual learners and and that makes a lot of
sense because we do not receive our And so we tried to look when we did this we looked at the data and we saw who was coming who wasn't coming and cut a lot to the data. And so as far as the need
of students with less staff we actually have less student less students and we're projected to have less students next year as well. We're projected to have 220 less students next year. So I don't
I do believe that at this moment in time we do not have a choice unless we get more money from the governor from the city. We really don't have much of a
choice. U pardon me for um what will probably be kind of a naive question. Um we've talked about this over and over in these sessions, but I think part of this body's responsibility is to bring these really complex ideas into something that's really simple and easy to
understand. So, I think a point of pride that we have as a district, um, is that last year we're facing several hundreds of thousands of dollars, millions of dollars of cuts, um, we were able to balance a budget without schoolbased cuts. So, how were
we able to do that last year? Um, could you speak to some of the nuance that went into that? And why is that not possible this year? And I I recognize this boils down to severity, but I think if you can explain some of that live for us, it would be helpful.
>> So on one of the slides you um Mr. Delay went over with the the cuts from last year. We had $1.3 million shortfall last year that we had to meet and
we worked our hardest to make sure that we made cuts at the district level because we didn't school, the intent is to always not touch the classroom. And so we were able to balance last
year's budget by cutting at district contracts of staff at $1.3 million and we balanced the budget. Unfortunately, the budget shortfall this year, we started at 11 million
and then negotiating with the city manager. They gave us $2 million to help us. And so that brought it down to 8.6 million. Even if I cut the entire
central office, I would still have to cut about $4 million into the schools. And that would be if we had zero cuts at the central office. I mean, all if I cut the entire central office.
So the gap is so wide that we do not have a choice but to cut at the school level. I don't enjoy doing this. None of us at this table enjoy having
this conversation because we know that our teachers matter. We know that our students need as many staff in the schools as possible. During We've received millions of dollars
and we also receive student opportunity dollars at the same time. So that's why we were able to add over 200 educators to our schools in the last five years. We invested heavily in our schools. I
don't know of a school system who invested this heavily in our schools. We put all the money in that classroom because We know that that's where it needs to be and that was the intent of those funds
and we held on to the positions that we created during co we held on and that's why we were we we were able to hold on to those by making cuts at the district level but the cut and the gap is so great right now that we are not able to
to continue to make cuts at the district office. We're making more cuts. We're making $1.7 million cuts at the district level, but we also now have to start at the school level. And that's why we're in the position that we're in. And I'm
concerned about next year because we're projected to lose 220 kids next year. And that's going to that's going to be another budget shortfall for us. >> Can I ask one more question? Dr. Thank you so much for that response. My final
question for the evening um in conversations with uh constituents from district 8, folks are asking and curious about specifically how many trusted adults our students will have access to um if these proposed cuts in this proposed budget go through.
So before I ask this question, I want to acknowledge that um in looking at districts across the entire Commonwealth of Massachusetts, we have a student teacher ratio that is much lower than the average district. We also have students who are uniquely in need of
types of support that other districts might not need. Um we can provide the resources we can because of administrators and the teachers that we have. Could you speak to sort of where our student teacher ratio, our educator teacher ratio is right now and where it
would be if the budget as proposed is accepted and approved? >> Hello. Okay, I'm actually going to call up Mr. Adam Lady. Um, we don't have a research and assessment office at Chelsea Public Schools. We have M
He is the research and assessment office and he is our mathematician and so he has been busy crunching these numbers um because he enjoys it. Tess. >> Okay. So, I mean, I think the question
is around I'm going to get a little mathy. Sorry. I I was a math teacher. Um maybe after this I'll be one again. Um the question was around the trust trusted adults and the uh what students
have access to. So we're really talking about proportions, right? So if you need let's just say three trusted adults for every 47 students, right? If you double the number of students, you double the
number of adults. If you cut the number of students in half, you cut the number of adults in half. So, because we're losing so many students, we're losing adults in proportion. And so, one of the things that we're looking
at is the it's not just the number of students we're losing, but it's also the profile of students going back. And I grew up here in Chelsea. I've I've seen the profiles of students change in my entire lifetime. It's shifted every five
or 10 years. Anyone who lives here knows that. Um, we've had lots and lots of newcomers to the country coming in. I don't think it's a secret to anybody here that that's not really happening anymore in the last couple of years. Those
newcomers that are coming in, we actually receive more money from the state for them and that's also hitting the impact. But we also need to provide higher level of service for newcomers to the country. As we don't have those newcomers coming in,
what we have is students who used to be newcomers who are here now for their fourth and fifth year, they now need fewer supports. So we believe that based on the numbers that we have, the proportions are the same. you know, when you take away the students and you look at the the staff members that we're
losing, we're really not losing much in regions, but we're not losing much in regards to that proportion of support. Does that kind of answer? >> Does that answer your question? >> Oh, and yeah, in the student toteer
ratio, so you'll see different ways to calculate that. Um, if we looked at Oh, thank you. This slide is up. So if you look at FY20, we had 6,257 students and we had 460 classroom
teachers. If you divide the number of students by the number of teachers, we were at about I believe it was 13. Was it 13 around there? Yeah. I can't do that kind of math in my head. When you get to this year and you do the 645
teachers, uh, sorry, the 5,749 students divided by the 645 teachers, we're actually at about 8.9 students per teacher in the district. 8.9, which is extremely low.
Going into next year, that number goes to 9.3. So, it is a slight increase, but it's not substantial. And it's certainly not anywhere near where we were in FY20, which was about 13. >> Okay, I think at this point we need to
move on to public comment because we get all be able to have time for everybody. I'm going to um read you the guidelines for the public comment. Um before we begin, I want to review the guidelines.
>> I'm sorry. I thought someone was saying something to me. I want to review the guidelines so that we can ensure everyone has the opportunity to be heard and that the meeting proceeds respectfully and in the order in an orderly manner.
Each speaker will have two minutes to address the school committee. When your name is called, please come to the microphone. State your name and whether or not you are a student, parent, guardian, staff, or community member.
For the record, you do not give need to give your address or anything else other than your name and who you are. When the two minutes have ended, we ask that you please conclude your comments so that the we can move on to the next
speaker. If you run out of time, a written testimony may be sent to our clerk at CPS school committee at chelseachools.com. We will line speakers up in groups of 10
to maintain a flow. We understand that many people feel strongly about the issues before us. However, we expect all speakers and members of the audience to remain respectful and professional.
Personal attacks, profanity, threats or disrupt disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Anyone who is disrespectful or disruptive may be asked to leave the the meeting so that we can maintain a
safe and productive environment for everyone. We appreciate your cooperation and your participation in this important discussion. The more organized we stay, the more productive we remain,
the more people will be able to speak. The more disruptive the meeting gets. Every time they're screaming, clapping, yelling, that just stops the person from being able to continue speaking and takes up their time. that they're
speaking because the timer is going. Just so you know that. So, please, if you're going to clap, wait for the person to keep finish talking because you're taking up their time. Just so you know, it doesn't make a difference whether you do it after or during. Um,
and we want to hear everyone. So, please can you bring in the first group? And I'm sorry, there is interpretation available also if you need it. interpretation services. Please um
you can raise your hand and we'll get you connected to the services. Hello everybody. My name is Josyn Tico. I'm a senior at Chelsea High School. Um, good evening school committee members and school personnel. Over the past
years, I've built a real relationship with my teachers. They're not just people who stand in front of a classroom. There people who check in on you, who push you when you're struggling, and who figure out where you want to be like in the future. For some of them, they're the reason why I'm even
considering the education to myself. And I've also experienced what happens when the um when support isn't there. In my freshman year, I was in an honors class that was overcrowded and was led by a substitute teacher for the entire
semester. We were we never teacher and honestly we didn't learn when we're supposed to. That stayed with me because it showed how much students lose when classrooms don't have stability. So when I hear about potential cuts, I don't just think about numbers. I think about
students sitting in classrooms like that again, feeling overlooked, falling behind, and questioning their abilities. Not because they aren't capable, but because they don't have the support needed. I understand that there are real financial challenges and I know these decisions aren't easy, but I ask that
you really consider what choices look like in the classroom on a regular school day for when we walk in because for us this isn't about the budget. It's about the kind of environment we held as CHS. And I truly believe that everyone in
this room cares about that as well. To move forward as a strong community, we need to come together as students, families, city leaders, and to focus on clear and honest communication. I came here not just to show how serious
the situation is, but also to emphasize something even more important, the strength we have when we come together as a community. Because at the end of the day, the unity along with the support we receive in our classrooms is truly what shapes our future. Thank you. And for Dr.
Um, I wish you luck with your father and your mental health journey. Thank you. >> Good evening, Chelsea School Committee. My name is Yahel and I am student at Chelsea High School. I'm here today to speak about the proposal to cut student
base positions and how this will negatively affect students like me. School counselors have supported many students, including myself, through challenges big and small. I have a strong relationship with my counselor, Miss Lawrence, and even with counselors who are not assigned to me. One of them
is Miss Mahia. Even though she is not my counselor, she has helped me grow not only as a student, but as a person. When I was at my lowest lowest in my sport, she lifted me up and motivated me to keep going. Because of her support, I am still playing soccer and even continuing
my passion. I even thought of her as my Miss Honey from Matilda, someone who always believes in students. This does not only affect staff and students at Chelsea High School, but even staff and young students in all Chelsea public schools. How many students will lose their Miss Honeys if you fire all these
educators? How are my little siblings and cousins supposed to learn when teachers are at risk of not teaching at their school. How can they feel safe when they are worried about losing adults they care about? Many of these young students have a close relationship with their teachers and having to start
over and gain that confidence and vulnerability will affect them a lot and not in a good way. Cutting teachers will also lead to larger class sizes and less individual attentions for students. Teachers are the people who educate and support us every single day. If difficult financial decisions must be
made, the district should first look at administrative and district level positions ra rather than cutting the people who work directly students. Our school exists for students. Please protect and support our our counselors and teachers and other student based
positions because when you cut them, you are not just cutting positions. You are cutting the support and opportunities that students need to succeed. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Juliana Hassel and I am a junior at Chelsea High School. I'm speaking on behalf of the
possibility of losing counselors and other important staff at our school. For students, not only do staff play a huge role in our lives, but also counselors. They help us reach our academic success as Chelsea High students. This year, I grew closer to my counselor. She believes in my goals and my future and
she tells me she's my she tells me she sees my potential and my capabilities. Hearing someone say that it mean it stays with you and it did for me and it boosts me to try my hardest and I'm at my lowest. She also happens to be my class adviser which means she supports my class counsel and helps guide us as leaders in the in the school. So I
appreciate Miss Lawrence. Starting off fresh with someone new could be difficult specifically for me but for other atrisisk students who rely on them for support. We are not only we are not the only district going through the situation and I want to see help within the school committee and I want to see more involvement instead of options
understand understanding the situation that we are in as a community within Chelsea public schools and budgeting. I want to know if finding a way of proposed of a proposed budget or seeking positive alternatives for success within this hard time as possible. I'm someone who would like to take the path of hope then take the path that leads to
accepting things as they are. In the end, I would like to see us come together as a community we are which is Chelsea. Thank you for your time and for listening. >> I hope we can find a positive solution. >> Good afternoon. My name is Christian Reente. I'm a junior at Chelsea High School and I'm here today to discuss the
decision to cut teachers, specifically school counselors, because it's not just a budget decision. It's a decision that would directly affect the future of students like me. I've been lucky enough to develop a relationship with my counselor since my freshman year. She has supported me with the classes I've taken, encouraged me to push myself
academically, and guided me towards great opportunities that without her, I wouldn't have even known existed. Because of her, I can confidently say that I have an idea of what I want to do in the future and also understand the steps I need to take to get there. I want to emphasize the importance of
having the support of school counselors. They are some of the only adults in our building that every student has access to all four years of their high school experience. They guide students towards career and college opportunities, helping them succeed academically and support them through mental health
struggles. By removing school counselors, you are taking away guidance from freshman and sophomores who needed help planning their futures and support from juniors and seniors who heavily rely on counselors for college applications, career planning, and important decisions about their next steps. So, I ask you to Consider that
although cutting school counselors and other teachers may save you money today, the everlasting cost will be far greater. It could cost students your support systems or opportunities and even their safety. Our counselors should not be seen as just staff part of a budget. They are mentors, guides, and
sometimes the one person a student knows they can turn to. Regarding the undeniable safety hazard from last Thursday, let's also talk about having classes with around 40 students in it and expecting one teacher to carry the responsibility of keeping them safe. This is a huge safety hazard and instead
of firing teachers, we need to be hiring more. Respectfully, I also find it absurd and ridiculous that a 17-year-old and people younger have to stand up and fight for their education. It's insane that we have to point out to adults the issues that matter. I want to let you
know that you have consistently underestimated the youth in Chelsea and want to suggest you never make that mistake again. Um, good evening everyone. My name is Na and I'm a student at Chelsea High School. I'm here to remind the committee
of what their core values are and like so Chelsea public school says that its mission is to welcome and educate all students and to create a safe and caring and respectful environment. It also centers its values around creating relationships, support and truly knowing
its students by its name, strength and stories. And I'm here because I don't feel like those values are being appreciated right now or they're being like like you're seeing it like you know what I mean. The decision to remove staff, teachers, counselors, and social
workers might look insignificant on paper for some of you, but for students, this can impact those who rely on these services on a day-to-day basis. My counselor, Queen of Lawrence, is someone I deeply trust. She's someone I go to when I feel
overwhelmed or I need guidance from an adult that is not my parents. >> She knows me not just as a student, but as who I am as a person, which is hard to find in a lot of adults nowadays that are not your family members. And I feel like it's very important that
we keep these relationships between students and like their staff the staff members in the schools because like this is how you make relationships. You want students to know how to talk to other people, not just solely people their age. And like sometimes when you can
talk to adults, you feel like you're respected. And right now, I don't feel like the values are being respected because I feel like the adults aren't seeing the students. They aren't seeing the students point of view. We can't only see the point of view of you guys. We have to see the point of view of students and like the families that are
being affected because these support systems are what students really rely on on a day-to-day basis. And I'm saying that from experience as someone who struggles a lot with being overwhelmed and anxious sometimes. I just need someone to talk to. And if we're taking
away counselors, then like I don't feel like that's fair. >> Okay. Hello. Thank you. Um, hello. Hello, my name is Urelli Sanchez, a parent of a special education student attending CBLA. I'm just here because I want to share my experience so that you
see how this decision impacts students like my son. Prior to last week, my son was attending the right middle school in an inclusive classroom. Not just in the school, but in previous grades, he has had some amazing wonderful teachers from Miss Markham to Miss Aldridge, Miss McGrade. Our decision to leave Inerson
school was largely influenced by the size of his class. There are already not enough front-facing special education teachers to make sure that students like my son who are on the quieter side and need to build trust before anything else get the attention that they deserve. Even his social worker was only in the
building two days out of the week. The only thing or people that got my son through the week was visits to the library, his Monday Dungeons and Dragons club, and his Friday art club with Miss Hortal. So while difficult decisions need to be made and while core subjects are important, please consider that for
students like my son, the arts, music, and library positions are what kept him motivated to go to school and inspire his critical thinking, specifically in his favorite subject, history. With the decision to cut positions, including the middle school CBLA, my son and I are left not knowing where he will
be next year, where he will finish his eighth grade journey. So while my heart goes out to you, please consider how this decisions affect special education children. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Vanessa Mendoza Mado. I am a multilingual educator, a
CPS grad, the vice president of the Chelsea Teachers Union, and the parent of a future CPS student. I welcomed my son, Ben, this past December. I am here tonight because of our shared beliefs. We love this community. We believe in our schools. And we care about our students and families. In my 10 years
working in this district, I have worked with roughly 2,000 students. That is the impact one educator can have in our district. As this budget stands, we face a reduction of over 75 staff members. People who come to work every day ready to make a difference in a child's life.
Last week, we witnessed the impact of our school staff. Hundreds of students, families, and community members came to the defense of our schools in support of our educators, our pair professionals, and clerks. Years of building relationships have led us to this moment. By cutting over 10% of our
staff, we are also destroying the partnerships that we have worked so hard to form. We may not agree on every single issue, but I can stand here tonight and say that we all want what's best for our students. You all have the ability to do what's right, to keep the staff members that work directly with
our students and families. When the dust settles and the budget is finalized, we may have a balanced budget, but not a balanced community. We have already lost so much this year for reasons out of our control, but we can control the stability our schools provide. For our students who are here today and the
students we can hope will return to us, we cannot willingly contribute to more loss in our community. Please do what is right. Prioritize the people directly in front of our students and make proportional cuts. We're not asking that you cut all of central office, but take a look at the district as a whole and
make fair cuts. Thank you. >> Hi, I'm Mary. I'm one of the social workers at the high school and I've been here for six years. I'm here today because I'm incredibly concerned that this proposal includes cutting a multilingual social work position at the high school. It may seem that one
position wouldn't have a huge impact on our students. However, I feel it would be quite the opposite. When I look at my colleagues whose jobs are at risk, I see people who are consistent supports to their students. They're here every day running clubs, teaching emotional
regulation, engaging students in school who otherwise might not attend. Eliminating this position stretches thinner teams that are already working against the clock to provide our students the care and attention that they deserve to ensure their safety.
For our department, a case load of students is much more than a number. But since numbers are a more tangible way to look at a situation, let's look at the numbers. When the most recent social work position at CHS was added in the 2122 school year, there were 1,498
students enrolled as per DESIE records. Desi records show that for this school year, our enrollment was 1,532, an actually larger number of students. It is very concerning that this position is on the table to be cut when there are
more students than in 2021 when the position was added. needs have definitely not gone down since 2021. If we want to look more at the numbers, Desi records show that for 86.5% of the student population at CHS,
English is not their first language. This is poor timing to be letting go of bilingual staff who serve multilanguage learners. If our numbers and percentages remain similar to 2021 when when this position was added, how do you justify
cutting it while making no cuts or adjustments to administrative positions? Where does that show our priorities lie in 2026 when there is so much fear in this community over immigration status, families being separated, a youth mental
health crisis, high rates of isolation, loneliness, and a lack of connection to others. >> Our students deserve more This is not the crime positions that support their wellness, NOT EVEN the next word, please.
>> Good evening, school committee members. My name is Eileen Adaso and I'm a senior at Chelsea High School. I'm here to comment on my personal experience and the decisions being made in this district. These are just numbers on a spreadsheet. They shape our classrooms, our futures, and whether we feel seen and supported. And right now, those
choices are hurting us. Chelsea Public Schools talks a lot about names, strength, and story. We hear that our district is proud of who we are. Immigrant families, first generation students, young people who carry our family homes back. We hear that our stories matter. But if our stories matter, then why are the people support
us? the teachers, the counselors, the private professionals, the people that are in this room right now, the first ones being cut. Student facing faculty aren't abstract girls. They're real people who change our lives. For me, that person is my counselor, Karina Lawrence. She came into my life when I
was still learning how to speak up for myself during my freshman year. She listened when I was overwhelmed, helped me understand my accommodations to my 504, my rights, and my power. Because of Karina, my school counselor, someone knew my name, my strength, and my story. But with these budget cuts, students
like me might never have that chance. I'm standing here today because an adult in this district believed in me. And I know I'm not the only student who can say that about a counselor, a teacher, or a staff member who changed their life. When you cut the student facing faculty, you cut the possibility of moments like that. You cut the adults who help us grow, who help us lead, who
helps us become who we're meant to be. If Chelsea Public Schools wants to be a district known for strength, and must protect the people who strengthen us. If it wants to be a district north author story, it has to listen to the stories we are living, not just the ones that look good on paper. Every student deserves someone who sees them, hears them, and lifts them. Please don't take
that away from students who come after me. Our students, our stories matter, our futures matter, and your decisions matter. My name is Eileen Hera and this is my name, my strength, and my story. Good evening, school committee members. My name is JB Hunter. I am a senior at
Chelsea High School. And considering most of the people here are probably going to speak about the impact of teachers, I'd like to talk about the impact of counselors and social workers. With your current proposed budget cuts, you will be firing social workers and counselors, leaving the remaining staff to have even larger case loads, and leaving more rooms for kids to slip
through the cracks. The recommended amount of students on a counselor's case load in at Massachusetts is a maximum of 250 students to one counselor. The same ratio goes for school social workers. The current average amount of students on a counselor's case load at Chelsea High School is about 210 and the average
of a social worker's cases is 400 students. By letting go of counselors and social workers, the remaining staff will be left with even larger case loads and be unable to service more students. Now, to why I'm here. I'm what the school system calls a vulnerable youth. I have autism spectrum disorder,
treatment resistant depression, and a variety of other mental health issues. And on November 14th, 2025, I had a plan to take my own life. One of the reasons I'm standing in front of you today is because of my school counselor, Karina Lawrence, who is being let go due to
these budget cuts and my social worker, Mara Pilot. They helped make sure I got treatment, among medication, and are why I am finally enjoying being alive since I was a child. I am not afraid to admit that Miss Lawrence and Miss Bila are part of the reason I am alive today. And
if I never had them, I would likely be dead. And with larger case loads for school social workers and counselors, they'll be overworked and overwhelmed and unable to connect with students due to this. And I can guarantee you that I am not the only kid like this in Chelsea, nor am I the only one who has
been saved on my school support staff. But by cutting school workers, social worker, and counselor positions, you are letting go of the people that notice these things and bonding students that you are supposed to serve. Maybe next time a council will be so overworked with their even larger case load, they
won't notice the warning signs. I ask that you please take this into consideration. Thank you for your time. Good afternoon. It's good to see you all again. My name is Andrea Mendes and I'm a junior at Chelsea High. Last year, I stood in the same room speaking in the about student safety, advocating for
those who do not feel safe in our schools. Today, I stand here again, but this time advocating for the people who make our schools feel safe, our teachers, our counselors, and ultimately the future of our education. These proposed cuts do not just affect staff, they directly affect students. They affect every student walking into Chelsea public schools. The issues
deeply personal to me over the past three years. I've built meaningful relationship with teachers, counselors, and and who have shaped me who I am today. One of those people is Miss Mahia. Miss Mahia has been more has been more than a coach or a counselor. She has been a mentor during during some of the most challenging moments in my high
school experience. She was the person I turned for advice, for support, and for motivation. She helped me grow stronger both mentally and physically. Whether whether it was dying from black from soccer or dying from the laughter um through laughter through a tough day
because she refused to let me give up and she showed up showed up for me. And my story is not unique. Students across Chelsea rely on relationships like these. These connections are what motivates us to come to school to push ourselves and to believe in our futures. So I need to ask why are the people who support us the ones being cut? For the past two years, I have stood here asking
for you guys to listen to students. Not just not just hear us, but act in ways that truly benefit us. Because where from where we stand, these decisions do not just reflect what's best for students. They reflect on what's easiest for administration. With all due respect, I may know your titles, but you have not impacted my life the way my teachers and counselors have. I trust
them because they show up for us every single day. If cuts truly need to be made, then then they should not have come at the expenses of the people who directly support students. look instead at the administrative and district level position roles that have removed from our daily experiences and do not have the same direct impact on our growth.
Students should not be the ones paying for the price of these decisions. Our future should not be put at risk because those in power are willing to take risks themselves. If you truly believe these changes are for better, then prove it by making decisions that prioritize students and not positions. Make sure that reflects the reality of classrooms and not just the structure of an
organization. Thank you for your time. Good afternoon. My name is Xavier Guzman. I am a junior student athlete here at Josie High School. I'm not really good at public speaking, but I felt it was important to speak today because of how these decisions affect students in our community and me. For
the past 11 years, I've been a student in Chelsea public schools. During that time, I've grown into the person I am today. Not only because my wonderful mom, but because of the teachers and educators who supported me along the way. These are people who believed in me, pushed me to do better better, and helped guide me even when I didn't
always know what was best for myself. As a student, we spend around 6 hours a day, 180 days a year in school. That means teachers are some of the most important influences in our lives. They build real relationships with us and help shape who we become. When I was younger in my early education, teachers
meant so much to me because they took the time to understand me and care about my growth. Even now in high school, I have teachers who mentor and inspire me every day. But in my three years at Chelsea High School, I've only I've already seen my teachers leave. Most of my freshman year and teachers are gone. I have teachers today that I look up to,
and it would be heartbreaking to come back one day and find out that the mentors mentors who helped shape me were let go. I understand the budgets can be difficult, but cutting teachers that should not be the solution. I've seen freshman and sophomores struggle with
things like writing essays, multiplying, and dividing. Larger class sizes, and fewer teachers only make these problems worse. Teachers are people who shape our future. They are mentors, role models, and the reason many students succeed. Today, I'm speaking not just for myself, but for the students who aren't here and
for the teachers who support us every day. So please, please, please reconsider >> these cuts and protect the people who are shaping our future. Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Naria Deija. I am a parent. Uh I have a six-year-old who
attends the Cali school. His name is Aeti. And I have been very intentional on making sure that my son speaks only Spanish at home. Growing up to an immigrant mom, I had to assimilate and I refused to let my son do that. So, naturally, my son is an English learner,
uh, English language learner. Um, when he entered the Kali school, his eye scores were horrible. He was in needs improvement for both English reading and his math skills. As of his recent scores, he's gone from needs improvement to approaching grade one. In his
English, he went up 45 points and in his math, he went up 37 points. That's the direct benefit of his MLL teachers. That is the direct benefit of Senor Gonzalez and Miss Mendoza, who by the way took the crying baby that was in the back so
I could speak here. I want to emphasize that I understand cuts need to be made, but I think that transparency is important. As a parent, this whole process has been frustrating not knowing who is on the staff of admin, who's in
the cabinet, and not having an or chart. It should not take me as a parent contacting different com committee members, looking at different budget books to try to figure out who is on this staffing. We need more transparency. We need to be more held more accountable for our decisions. And
I ask that you guys as a committee strike this budget down and ask for another budget in which we protect front-facing teachers. I want to speak to you guys directly and remind you guys it is a privilege that you guys are sitting there. You are voted by your
community. It is your duty to listen to us and not go to what is the normal. I keep hearing in the 17 years in the history this is not this is not normal. These are unprecedented times and I ask you to go against your grain. I ask you
to do what is unexpected of you and consider the voices of the people that voted you in that privileged position you're in. And for the residents, I ask you to remember who's here. And the next time you have to vote, remember
My name is Britney Fitzg and I'm a history teacher at High School. I've been teaching here for 11 years and I plan on being here until I retired because I love this community. Our students will attest to the highly visible work of educators. Our students know we build their curriculum, grade their work, learn their clubs, their families can support them in their
success. But there's a lot of invisible and urgent work educators do that this budget ignores and endangers. I know of several educators who have volunteered for school safety teams, physically putting themselves between our kids and danger before and after school. I have yet to see a member of central office do that at the high school. I have spoken
to several educators who are members of Lucay actively putting themselves at risk to protect our students and their families. I don't know a single member of central office that can say the same. When a former CHS student contacted me in crisis in an incredibly situation. I called a CHS social worker who spent the
next few hours helping me out that student, likely saving their life. I did not call anyone from central office. I practice active shooter drills with my kids and accept the responsibility of having to decide if we run, hide, or fight, knowing full well it could mean death. No one from central office
practices those drills with us crouched in a corner pretending to hide from guns. It seems to me that this budget, which is meant to protect our students future, should probably prioritize the educators who every day prioritize the emotional and physical safety of our students. Students deserve a budget that serves students. Educators protect
students. Central office protects themselves. Hi, my name is Stacy Esquark and I am a teacher at the Early Learning Center and have been there for 24 years. Everyone in this district works hard for our students and I love working in a school
committee full of colleagues who share the values in supporting and empowering our children. However, it cannot be denied that Chelsea public staff have been the front lines of the pandemic, immigration crackdowns, budget cuts,
staff shortages, and the money other dynamic challenges our community face. We are the school-based staff. We are the ones in the classroom helping our students navigate these challenges and the world day in and day out. We come in
every day with a smile on our face. Why? because that's what our Chelsea students deserve. We are not here to complain about how hard our jobs are. Rather, we're here to illustrate why we are essential staff for Chelsea students and
our community. Therefore, the burden should not be felt by it should be felt by all of us, the teachers and central staff. Good evening. My name is Megan Marildo. I am an MLE, a multilingual educator at
the Brown Middle School. I've been there for 10 years. Both of my children have been able to attend the ELC through the employee prekinder program, and they've both grown into tremendous learners through the hard work of the teachers there. Since the district is proposing seven
cuts in each middle school, all of our students will be affected. At BMS, the proposal is to reduce our staff from eight multilingual educators to only six, as well as eliminating the Slife position and a SPEND position. As a result of these cuts, roles and
responsibilities will change and create an unstable and inconsistent environment for some of our most vulnerable populations. This would affect all students since these cuts already high case loads for each student. These positions build meaningful relationships
with them and their families. With our teacher team, we create scaffolds and supports so students can access grade level curriculum. With more students for each staff member, needs will be left unmet, families will be left uninformed, and our students will be pushed further into an opportunity gap of the
district's own. Educators know every one of our students name, strengths, and stories. To educators, our district values are more a phrase or a t-shirt. Why is 27 central office positions of more value to the students in Chelsea than any one of the
76 educators who truly know the students and their families? The answer is they aren't. We as a district cannot prioritize the roles of central office staff over family and student facing positions and say that we welcome and call students to a high quality
education in a system that is devoted to equity, diversity, and social justice. Educators and building staff matter most to the students of Chelsea, not 27 titles with academic buzzwords. I urge the district and school committee to reconsider their priorities in this
budget cycle and make the hard decisions within their own four walls before cutting ML and spend positions that face our students and families. Thank you very much. >> Hello, my name is Isma Algage. I'm a senior at Chelsea High School and I'd like to start by offering my deepest
condolences to Dr. Abeda. I keep you and your father in my prayers. The purpose of my speech will be to provide insight as to how the Chelsea public schools administration has failed us. And by us, I mean students, I mean teachers, social workers, and school counselors. In order
to maintain the budget, you have decided to fire more than 70 staff members across Chelsea public schools. And this is your solution. Sorry, making me edit. This is your solution and your decision for what the budget cuts will be. All to afford a cell phone policy that isn't being
enforced and a new schedule next year, which requires teachers to take up an extra class and still get paid the same amount. You plan to fire counselors. You plan to increase the case load of other counselors. As a result, you will make it much harder for students to get the support and love they need. Throughout
my four years at Chelsea High School, the one person I knew I could go to for support and love and most of all, understanding was my counselor, and now you plan to let her go. You are making it harder for children to have someone they can go to. You have failed to create a safe learning environment, and
now you plan to remove the people we students cling to for support every day. I encourage you to ask yourselves as to what is the priority, the education or the administration. The paychecks of these 18 teachers in our school and 70 total across Chelsea public schools is
holding you back. You should consider re-evaluating where the budget cuts will be centered because all members in the administration are having their contract renewed next year. Most of these teachers who are letting go are receiving a low-inccome wage. And this is because your only rationale for removing them is that they don't have
status at the schools they work at. Assuming each administration member makes three times more than that of a low-income teacher, you are valuing the work of each member to that of three teachers. And these people do not see a single student every single day. Mary
Burke, the previous superintendent, successfully handled an entire educational system that had 600 more children and half the number of people in her cabinet. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, SCHOOL COMMITTEE. My name is Princess Dwan and I am attending today's meeting on behalf of the
community members affected by this cut. This isn't just about jobs being lost. It's about the students losing their support systems. the very people who guide us, encourage us, and advocate for us every single day. I'm currently a sophomore at Chelsea High School, and I want to remind you that this isn't just one teacher. This is at least 70
teachers cut from the district. Many students don't know everyone in the main office or administration. And not only all of those roles directly impact students in the same way teachers do. The relationships we build in classrooms is what shapes our experiences and success. Through my school years, I
struggled with a lot silently and I came to school and put a smile on. Elizabeth Steinberg, Sarah Ruddy, Damon Bailey, Lauren Cotaldo, Vanessa Ruda, Claire Flores, Chelsea Aldridge, and Michelle Martinelloo. These are names of faculty members that have that have personally made a difference in my life and made it
easy to put a smile on my face without knowing it. I can't imagine teachers getting ripped away from the students that love and care for them. There are many more names that I can list that have impacted me and some of my friends. I agree with that. We should cut faculty members, but we should be taking away
the people who don't make an impact on the students. The city of Chelsea isn't providing and investing in better outcomes, and this is the exact reason. A lot of our community complains about the graduation rate when the students aren't the problem. It's the district. Please find ways that wouldn't affect only teachers and students, but the
admin and everyone. This is unfair and unjust. Instead of trying to only work with the city and city manager, we should take it to state to make it to make sure they fund for what's needed. With that, all I'm asking is to think before acting, which is something we are taught as kids and as youth. It's
disappointing that we have to retach adults that people care. Thank you for your time this evening, and I hope tonight can show you that we all care. Good afternoon, school committee. My name is Reena Pada and I'm a student at CHS. Coming up here today, I'm not only advocating for myself, but also for
future generations like my little siblings and teachers who have made an impact on my life. The teachers who teach our youth on a daily are at threat of being cut from their jobs. Teachers are more than educators. They're a support system. They ask you what's going on when they see you're acting different than usual, and they affirm you that you're capable of more than you
could ever imagine. It would break my heart to see teachers I and many others have built a personal bond with lose their jobs. I can name multiple teachers who have shaped who I am today like Mr. Fidil, Miss London, Miss Bildil, Miss Fields, and others who I hold close to my heart. I also see a pattern of
special needs teachers and teachers who teach kids from different countries being cut. And this shows that the city isn't putting much importance to kids who need those additional resources. When people see our numbers of enrollment just dropping, they just take the data without asking why it is that
way. It's unfair that we get our funds cut because there are less kids attending our school. But it's not by choice. It's because these kids are being adopted by ICE. These kids are already marginalized in society and seeing it be the same case in schools is truly disheartening. I understand that
the issue stems from somewhere deeper than the city. It comes from systemic issues which overlook minorities like us. There's no other words to describe this but unjust and sickening. I propose we should take this to a state level and advocate for more funding in gateway cities like ours who are going through the same to not only put a temporary
band-aid on this crisis but to fix it permanently and ensure that schools won't have to go through this again. I hope you keep this in mind as you vote for this budget. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Varo Lopez and I'm a parent. Um, tonight I'm asking for two things. The first thing is that the
school budget be re-evaluated to include more district level positions and less in school positions and that the school committee along with the city manager and state reps uh look into investing more into the schools so that this situation does not keep happening to
Chelsea. I was born and raised in Chelsea and am a proud product of Chelsea public schools. I met my husband in high school and this year we celebrate 20 years together. We have three children uh aged 6, 4, and 21
months old. Two attend the early learning center and the three-year-old who also hopefully will be going there next year. Um I'll be honest, there was a time when I was not proud to say that I was from Chelsea when I went to school
for college. Um, and they asked me where I was from, and I would say I was from Chelsea. I would get a lot of dirty looks, and I at one point thought uh that I was from the Chelsea dump when people would ask me and it was really embarrassing. Um, now that I'm older and
now that I work in this city and I have matured some, I can say that I'm proud to be from Chelsea. I have decided to raise my family here, to stay here. It is a purposeful choice that I have made. Um, and so when I have been present for
these meetings, one of the things that has been frustrating is that there has not been a lot of transparency when we have declared that there has been transparency throughout these budget discussions. We've repeatedly heard the numbers tied to the student facing cuts,
but we had never seen any of the slides that discuss the district level positions that were going to be cut. If from day one we had seen those numbers, a lot of the arguments and a lot of the discussions that took place would not have happened and we could have focused on what really mattered which is the
children. Chelsea is a city of multilingual families and English learners. Our students need bilingual educators, interpreters, parent leaison, social workers and paraprofessionals. These are not luxuries. They're necessities. If administrative roles are essential then and if we really need
chiefs of this and directors of that and coordinators of this then those are conversations that need to be had openly but we have to ask ourselves are we prioritizing what matters most for our students. Finally this is a call to our city officials.
Okay, sorry. Um, >> okay. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Katherine Bonitz and I am a 10th grader at Chelsea High School. I stand here today because our school is facing a very unfair and upsetting situation. Many supportive and dedicated teachers are being laid off
because of budget cuts. These decisions affect students deeply because the educators who guide and support us every day are the ones we are losing. I believe this is unjust because the teachers who have the greatest impact on students lives are being being removed. These are the people who encourage us,
listen to us and help us grow both academically and personally. One person who has made a huge difference in my life is Naomi Mahia. She is my counselor, my mentor, my coach, and honestly like a second mother to me. I met her in 8th grade, and since then, she has helped me shape. She has helped
shape me into the student and athlete I am today. She is one of the most caring, trustworthy adults I know in the school. Miss Mahia supports not only the students assigned to her, but many other students who turn to her for guidance. Losing someone like her would have a major impact on my life and other and
many other students who would agree in this room. This is bigger than just one teacher. Many of the teachers being laid off have built strong bonds with their students and are trusted adults in our lives. If you truly care about students, I ask you to protect these connections and reconsider these decisions. Thank
you. >> Hello everyone. My name is Diane Roas. I am a junior and I go to Excel Academy Charter High School. I am well aware that I do not go to CHS, but I'm also aware of the unfair budget cuts and dismissal of around 70 different staff members. This is not acceptable. When
you remove educators, you're not only cutting positions, you're cutting mentorship, guidance, safe spaces for students who rely on them the most. You're sending a message that their education is their education is negotiable, that their futures are optional. And this is a message we cannot accept. These teachers are
preparing these students for their future. You guys aren't. I want to remind you that these students are the future of Chelsea and will step into your position to make decisions that can uplift the community rather than tearing it down. So I ask you, who are you really serving with these cuts? Because it's not the students, it's not the
families, and it's not the future of this community. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Olivia Jones. I'm a student in Chelsea High School. As a student with an individuality education plan, such as an IEP, I have a
curriculum tailored to my specific learning needs, and I would not be able to navigate my education challenges without the dedicated guidance of the special education staff. Proposing cuts to any special education department in this district is detrimental
to students like me. I'm specifically writing to express my deep concerns regarding the news that my counselor mis returning to us next year. As a junior, I spent three years building a strong
relationship with her. She has been instrumentally standing with me for success in guiding me towards my college goals. The decision to remove her due to budget cuts is devastating for the
senior class and junior class and the broader community. Removing just mentor to such a critical juncture jeopardizes our stability and college planning. For many of us, the
connections we have built with Miss Lawrence is essential to our growth. I urge you to reconsider this decision and acknowledge the profound impact that this financial choice has on
students who rely on this support. >> Hello. Uh my name is Michael Cortez. I'm a junior at Chelsea High School. Uh I'm here to discuss the fact that uh our budget's basically just going to kill education. Um you're just essentially pulling into a genocide of the Hispanic population that is ongoing because of
the ICE raids throughout the cities of Chelsea and the rest of the state of Massachusetts. And if you want to feel that genocide, go right ahead and approve and approve this budget plan because that's basically what it does. And if you don't, then how about you say the fact that our state is currently one in AP exam test takers, number one in
access to early literacy, access to prek and access to the the number one state in the quality of education. If you want to deny this though, you want to tell the population that you are going to be better. But if you want to improve this budget, you might as well have started the doomsday clock on our
education and it's about to go off. We've had people who had to cry in front of you guys and I've seen the sympathy. But if the sympathy can go further and deny this budget bill, it would be greatly appreciated by the city of Chelsea. And furthermore, the mental health crisises that are about to skyrocket because of the fact that we're
counting counselors. The doomsday clock has started on people committing suicide. It's going to only increase if you approve this budget plan. Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight about the proposed teacher budget cuts and what it
means to our students. I want to start by saying that longevity alone should not measure the value of a teacher or whether she simply stays or goes. It should be the teachers who have been in the building for eight plus years. That
doesn't automatically make them the better person for our students. What we ma what matters most is the impact educators are making in classrooms right now. How they support learning growth and well-being for our children. At the same time, we cannot talk about staffing
decisions without recognizing the incredible work being done by our learning support department. These professionals are not just student academically, but they are helping survive some help them survive some of the hardest things they're going through in their lives right now. Every day they
work with students who are struggling emotionally, who are dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, who are feeling isolated. Their work has saved, literally saved lives. I know because Miss Lawrence helped me save my son.
The crisis that the are going through is incredible. And I know this is not easy for you guys and many of you are also Chelsea parents and you have to put your personal opinion aside. And I get that this isn't easy, but we're attacking this department and we're attacking the
kids counselors and my son would you guys would have been paying respects to me if it wasn't for these people. You guys know me as a You know me as a teacher. You know me as a coach. You
know me in many ways. I've never shown up to any of your meetings because I trust. But right now I don't. And it's not personal for you, but it is very personal for me. Chelsea High helped me
save my son. These social workers and these guidance counselors and the SPEG department helped me save my son. Autism isn't something that people understand for high functioning kids and as a high
functioning child emotionally and socially you you can excel. My son takes AP classes and honors classes and he is great for your statistics, but emotionally he's in crisis. And without
Miss Lawrence, one more suicide this year, because Chelsea High had suicide this year that they did not speak loudly about. We would have been two. If it wasn't for Miss Lawrence, we would
have been two. If it wasn't for the SPE department every year meeting with me to help make sure my son feels what we call normal. >> Thank you to the sped department. Thank you to you. Good evening members of the committee.
My name is Siara Duffy and I'm a lifelong Chelsea resident. I'm an alum of the Kelly Communos program and today I work with our students as a technology teacher at the Burgitz, which means I have the pleasure of serving all of our students. I'm here because I'm concerned
about the many cuts to studentf facing positions, particularly the decision to reduce digital literacy classes for grades 1 through 4. Technology is already part of our students daily lives in our elementary schools. I see how excited our students are to use technology to create, problem solve, and
express their ideas. Digital literacy teaches them how to do that safely, responsibly, and thoughtfully. Digital literacy is not about technology. It's about student safety. Technology is constantly evolving and our students already have access to it now. They need
guidance now. And frankly, half a teacher is not enough. Teaching these skills early helps prevent future issues like cyber bullying. misinformation and unsafe online behavior. Digital literacy is also an equity issue. Many students,
for many students, school is the only place where they can learn how to safely navigate the digital world. With current cuts, we are seeing larger class sizes and fewer staff available to provide individualized support across the board. I understand budgets require difficult choices, but I encourage the district to
look for solutions that prioritize keeping student facing instruction in our classrooms while examining reductions at the district level. This is not a plea for my job. This is advocacy for our students education for some of our most vulnerable youngest
students. Our students deserve to begin learning this essential life skill early. They deserve to have the support of all their teachers. Thank you for your time and your commitment to creating some schools that Chelsea students deserve. >> Hello, good evening. My name is Max
Cario Diaz. On Thursday, you guys mentioned how you want collaboration from us, but it seems like you guys are tying your hands behind your backs. You think the teachers are only here because their jobs on the line, but the teachers of Chelsea are already sacrificing so much in order for the people of Chelsea
to somehow get a decent education. I understand we don't have the same resources as everyone else, and that with that comes a lot of restrictions and funding, but you you're really going to sit here and say you didn't expect this many people to care about this matter when this town's foundation is
immigrants. people who put their lives on the line for their kids to get an education and future that they couldn't achieve. >> Fulfilling next year's curriculum is already going to be a challenge as it is. And y'all are going to y'all are making it harder for us to succeed. If
you so cared about your students like you say you do, you wouldn't be screwing with our futures like this where your future doctors, nurses, police, voters, etc. And you're just accepting the fact that our resources are going to be taken away. I hope all of you are aware that
this is not only going to affect us or our teachers, it's going to affect everybody. What you're doing is not fair. >> Good afternoon. My name is Robert Masterson and I'm currently a junior at Chelsea High. Throughout my time in the Chelsea school district, what I've seen is that the teachers and staff have
guided students through every part of school. My middle school teachers helped me find education as a career that I want to pursue. My high school teachers have reinforced that as my different career. Teachers, social workers, and counselors make so many sacrifices to be able to teach in this district. And to know that their livelihoods are at risk
breaks my heart. I think back to my freshman year history teacher, Mr. Broman, how he would make the commute to Chelsea every day all the way from Salem. how he took the time to get here and how he chose to teach the students at CHS. And that same year he was gone. No one in this district is a percentage, number, or a statistic. They're all
people who make a difference in every student's life and support them through thick and thin. I implore you to rethink the positions you're cutting and think about the wider effect of the on the lives of every student and everyone else in the Chelsea School District. Thank you. Good evening everyone. My name is Monica
Cespetes Cruz. I am a student athlete at Chelsea High. I want to take a moment to talk about the impact my school counselor has made on my life. Miss Mahia does so much more than just help students pick classes. She is a person who students can turn to when we feel stressed, overwhelmed, or unsure about
our future. Because of her support, I started believing that education could still be a part of my future. Because of her advocating for me, I got my second chance. She believed that I could be a full-time college student my senior year of high school. I thought she was crazy because what do you mean full-time?
But because of her pushing me to be the best I can, I got all A's my first semester, and that boosted my GPA high enough for me to get into school. Because of her, I will be able to continue my academic and athletic career at a four-year college. laying off a counselor that students
truly trust to go to about anything. A coach that makes her players believe in their potential even when they don't believe in themselves. Removing a mentor like her doesn't just remove a position from the school. It removes a pos It removes someone who changes lives. I'm standing here today because she believed
in me when I needed it most. And I know there are other students who will need her to believe in them just like she believed in me. All teachers and counselors are valued by the best students. They listen without judgement, guide without pushing, and care without conditions. Because of them, students
learn that it's okay to ask for help, that healing is possible, and that our stories matter. Thank you. >> Good evening, members of the school council. My name is Lisa Angel, and I am a student of Chelsea High School. I'm here today because the recent cuts to
our school budget have reduced the numbers. The number of high school counselors and social worker. I want to explain why these positions matter so much to students like me. For many of us, support staff are the reason we are able to come to school and focus on learning. Students is not school is school is not just classes and grades.
Many students are balancing balancing family responsibility. Stressed out people stress at home and challenges that people don't normally see. Counselors and social workers are trained to help us manage those things that things so we can actually succeed in the classroom. Counselor counselors
notice our progress. They see our effort even when others only see our mistakes. In my own experience, my counselor has often reminded me that effort that all reminded me that my effort matters. She understands what I've been through and sometimes just hearing someone say, "I see you try" makes the difference
between giving up and persevering. Counselors also help our families. They reach out to our parents, guide them through our our school systems and help connect students up with resources. Their office are often the first place students go to when we don't know what to do. Whether it's about school, college, or something happening at home,
we can walk in and ask, "Where do I start?" And we rarely leave without even playing. Even when the even when their case loves smaller on paper, they are always busy because students always need them. And the truth is that the problems young people face today are not getting smaller. They are getting bigger and
more complex. Our staff and teachers are the ones who we interact with every day. These are people we know and trust. We already shown them our abilities and learning styles. We know we shouldn't have to start over. Cutting counselors and social workers does not remove students needs. It only removes the
support that helps us meet them. If we want students to succeed academically, we need the people who help us feel supported enough to show up and try. I hope you will reconsider these cuts and invest in the staff who help students succeed just not in school but in life. Thank you for your time.
Good evening everyone. My name is Jamari Guerrero and I'm a student at Chelsea High School. I'm here tonight because I'm worried about what could happen if teachers and counselors get cut. This isn't just about the money. It's about the people who make a difference in our lives every day. They show up for us even when it's hard and care more about just the grades. They notice us when we're struggling to help us plan for the
future and actually care about us. They are not just they are not replaceable and their impact can not by budget. Some teachers do more than teach. They stay after class, encourage us when we feel like giving up, and push us to do our best even when we we don't believe we can. Counselors help with the big things like planning for college or dealing
with stress. And they are the people we turn to when we have nowhere else to go. The counselors are who will guide us, listen to us, and support us when we need the most. I used to be shy and didn't know how to speak up or ask for help. But because of my teachers and counselors, I've learned how to stand up, share my thoughts, and believe my voice matters. They've helped me find my
voice and I know they do the same for many other students. Losing teachers and counselors wouldn't just affect me. It would affect hundreds of students who walk into that building every day hoping someone believes in them and supports them. These are the people who will help us grow. Not just academically, but as people. Please remember behind every
decision are real students whose lives and futures are being shaped right now. Teachers and counselors are not just staff. They are the ones who help us believe in ourselves and reach our potential. Please don't take that away from us. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Zachary Ryan.
I'm the parent of two children, one of Kelly. Uh I'm proud to be a member of this community and a resident of Chelsea. I would like to reiterate like to reiterate what people have said before me, specifically parents. You
need to be clear with what you're doing. People have asked multiple times for information and we haven't gotten it. We have not received that information. Without that clarity, we don't know what's going on. We see obstacation of the numbers. So, you didn't tell us, you told us 70 teachers at a prior meeting,
but didn't tell us about the district. This time, you gave us district numbers. But when you're talking about the teachers, you're not giving us numbers. You need to tell us the whole story from start to end. To the committee members, I would like to remind you your duty
first above all else is to the students. It's not to get along with the administration. It is to work with them to come to the decision of a budget that will work. But your duty is to the students in this district, all the
districts. I want you to remember that. I would like to say that uh additionally we all know Kasarov the people in this community more so than I think other places in the state. We get that but they've been fighting. The people are here are fighting. I'm really proud that all these kids are here. The parents are
here. Speaking from a a point of uh privilege. I've started to show up this year. I'm going to continue to show up every meeting. I will be there to the students here. Continue to show up. To the parents I hope you show up. I hope every meeting is in this auditorium
because this has to be the new normal because yes, the cuts are happening. They don't have to be this this drastic on the teachers, the administration. You said we lose students, we have to lose adults. Guess what? The adults work in the administration. They need to be at,
you know, they need to be cut at a commensurate level. Thank you for listening. Good evening. My name is Vanna Gomez. I have working in education for 25 years and for the last seven years.
I have proudly working as a par professional at EFC. Chelsea is not just where I work. It is my home. It is I live here and I also
I'm sorry and I also honor in this community. This is the city where all my children were born and raised and where I have grow up as a person. CH is a strong community because it people
proper professional are essential in our classroom. We support students academically, emotionally and socially. All our student need extra care, patient and attention and we are here for them
every single day. Cut like this don't just affect the staff, they affect the quality of education. Our our students receive. My salary is also essential for my family. But below them,
this work is my passion. I truly believe in the future of our children and in the importance of supporting them. It will means a lot if you reconsider
those cuts and prioritize prioritize the people who are working every day to support church students. Please remember that when you support professionals and educators,
you are supporting the children of Chelsea and the future of this community. Thank you. Good evening, uh, Dr. Arda. First of all, I'm thinking of you and your father with much love. Uh, my name is Anita Pa. I'm a social worker at Telsey High
School and I'm a resident of this community. This district is pushing on 76 studentf facing positions. One of them is uh, ELLL social worker in this building and two school counselors in this building. These cuts are definitely going to affect the
well-being and safety of our students and it's going to put an impossible burden on those of us who have to fill that gap. Our students suffer from anxiety, depression, trauma. Too many of them have attempted suicide. We've already
lost one to suicide. So many students think about dying every day. When they need help, they don't go to a spreadsheet. They don't look for admin. They come to us, the school counselors and social workers that are in this building every day supporting them.
Making these cuts removes a lifeline that many students cannot and will not be able to survive without. For hundreds of our students who have little or no health insurance, we are the only people that are providing mental health services in
their lives. They will not get anything else after they leave this building. Jocelyn Flores, the ELLL social worker that is being pushed out. >> She has repeatedly stepped out. She's been covering maternity and medical leaves without pay, without extra pay.
She manages a high-risisk case load, and she supports students far beyond her roster. Now, past leadership has prioritized student facing positions with less budget, less administration. You guys are saying you're focused on
supporting students. Yes. and creating safe environments where every student can succeed. Okay. So I ask you how how are you going to expect student success when you are prioritizing administrators
over those of us who directly provide safety and support to thousands of students every single day. Students are not line items on a budget. Your cuts are sending a dangerous message that our support is optional.
I'm almost done. You are taking away the very care and stability they need to succeed. Budgets reflect priorities. Our students are watching what you choose to prioritize and protect. I am asking you,
Nope. I am pleading you to please choose them. Thank you. Good evening, Chelsea school committee members. My name is Jeff Mado and I'm a junior at Chelsea. Our community has been targeted by threats of political ambition from the high administration.
But one seeks it to destroy our education here in Chelsea. a budget that would cut 70 plus teachers across the district. Mo mo most of those numbers coming from the high school. If we seek to better finance our city's budget, why not look at the inequality between
administrators and actual staff that teach our students? Why not address the constant promotions that these useless administrative jobs get while teachers get underfunded and cut? It is shameful to see our own policy makers who thrive on saying we are here for you while doing the opposite of what we want. We
foster relationships with our teachers because they are families. We do not foster relationships with people who do not who do not directly teach us the education we deserve. Teachers across my school already faced the issues of maintaining large classroom sizes. Mind
you, they are they are supposed to be less than than what we actually need to have. Cutting teachers across the district while we already face a student surplus and teacher s shortage among classrooms will ultimately ruin our
education and destabilize proper education for our students. The reason we elected you into office is because we believe you deserve the the positive ambitions ambitions of the people. But it seems you ignore the sentiments of the students and unagnowledged families
who deserve to know. It's shameful and you should absolutely reconsider your proposal on the budget immediately. Thank you. >> Hello there. I'm at Chelsea High and my story is a myriad constructed by every single influence and role model I've had
the fortune of knowing. For example, my counselor My social worker, Miss B, who uplifted me when I thought I couldn't make it past 16. My math teacher who never judged my confusion when I felt stupid. My chem teacher who helped me disco discover my passion for STEM. This
school strives to know students by their name, strength, and story. So, I'm here to discuss why it why it's even a question whether we should unjustly ruin the livelihoods of dozens of trusted mentors that have made our school great. Teachers are the backbone
of education and have been historically underpaid, overworked, exploited, and stripping jobs away from teachers who have chosen to pursue education for the sake of helping kids knowing the risks associated is just cruel. The teachers at this school have led hundreds of kids
to graduation. Have led kids to grow interest in fields unknown. Helped kids understand themselves and know what they want to do with their life. Leading these kids to gather opportunities stemmed from this knowledge and agenda from teachers. I fail to comprehend why instead of seeking financial
alternatives like cutting positions in administration making over 250,000 a person spending 50,000 on yonder pouches spending hundreds of thousands to add more periods with even less teachers yet we turn our backs on the teachers that have done nothing but act as role
models. I believe we as a community need to stand up for those that have been guiding us to do our best and I plead for basic human compassion over this gross negligence. Thank you. >> I am a year college student and a casting leader for immun right for
Chelsea High School uh 2025. Uh I want to talk about two person most important for me because I came alive is Miss Flores and Miss Marcado both is social workers who helped me to involve in the CH high school. uh with the support from Miss Flores, she helped me to when I was
feel so stressed and frustrated when I was apply for college because that was a lot of job for me. Uh both of them help me to involvement in my life and control my life and my time. Um, I I want to say this in Spanish.
I wonder I wonder do you want to take away the support and guidance for the from the students of the Chelsea? What kind of the city you want Chelsea to be a city who does more support when students need they need it most or one
that's invest in the people who keep students safe support and to build Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Moreno and I've been a school counselor at CHS for 13 years and a resident of Chelsea for 10.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight about something that is not only vital to our schools, but to the well-being of our entire community, the importance of maintaining school social work positions at the high school level. Especially the position of my colleague Joselyn Flores, who passion and dedication to serving our community is
unmatched. Chelsea High School serves around 1500 students right now. If our team is reduced to four social workers, that would mean roughly 370 students for every one social worker. Even if not every student requires intensive support, that number is deeply
concerning when you consider the needs of our community. Nearly half of our students are multilingual learners and many families face significant barriers including accessing mental health care outside of school. Long wait list, insurance limitations, transportation
challenges, and the lack of providers who speak a family's native language often make outside support difficult to access. For many students, school is the only place they receive consistent mental health care. With five social workers, the case load would be closer
to 295 students per social worker. That difference represents dozens of more students who may be dealing with anxiety, trauma, family stress, crisis situations, and facing immigration uncertainties. If those positions are eliminated, students needs will not disappear. There will simply be fewer
adults available to support them. In a community like Chelsea, these supports are not extra. They are essential for cultivating a safe learning environment where students can reach their potential. I beg that you please reconsider this budget and do the right thing. I'm not talented enough to hold this at
the same time as I talk. Thank you for good evening. My name is Heather Ryan. I am the proud parent of a child in Lasa Kelly, grade 2 and ELC um prek. Uh and thank you very much for this opportunity to speak. Forgive me for speaking
quickly. Um I appreciate that you have come today with additional granularity related to um the breakdown and distribution of these budget cuts. And I don't think anyone here would disagree that clearly we are at a budget deficit and that salaries are composed the majority of the costs and thus people
are going to be those that we have to consider losing. Um but this is a clearly a highly complex issue that that deserves a proportionally detailed and nuanced response from the district and I continue to be disappointed in how the
distribution of these cuts are being justified to us as a community. I don't quite understand how cuts across the board to our special education thus are related to the n the the actual students that we are losing. Are we losing
students who have sped needs and thus that's why we're losing more sped teachers? And if that's the case, then how do we then justify additional district level administration to oversee fewer sped teachers who are now left remaining? Um, I think we should expect
nothing less from you than a granular data driven uhd driven approach to these cuts and a vigorous unrelenting advocacy at city hall for additional city funds to preserve as many of these studentf facing staff as possible for as long as
possible. and a long-term plan that's going to take into consideration how this year's cuts will then join with next year's cuts to affect actual student outcomes. What are our outcomes here that we are measuring and how do
each of these cuts directly relate to that? And so since clearly this is a public comment period and not a response, Dr. Almeida, thank you so much for all that you have done. I would really appreciate knowing exactly what student outcomes we are looking at that
drive those decisions. And for our uh dedicated committee, please remember your mandate and your charter. And do not vote yes unless you are truly satisfied that this district has connected each of those losses to
specific studentdriven outcomes and has met the moment at city hall to ensure that we have mitated as possible. Thank you. >> Good evening everybody. My name is Lindsay Flores and I'm currently a junior here at CHS. I want to start off
with the fact that we're back here again today and that should really tell you something. When the same people keep coming back, it's because the problem hasn't been solved. And because what's happening is serious. These cuts are absolutely unacceptable.
Students come to school looking for education, for opportunities, and for support. And right now, that support is being taken away from us. Chelsea public schools are facing a major deficit. And because of that, more than 70 studentf facing positions are being cut. Those
are not just numbers. Those are real people. Teachers, counselors, staff, people students trust and rely on every single day. When you remove those people, you're not just cutting a budget. You're cutting support systems. You're cutting relationships. You're
cutting the people who help students stay on track. And in a city like Chelsea, that matters even more. Many of our students are English language learners. Many come from families that already face challenges. School is not just a place we go. It's a place where
we find stability, guidance, and someone who believes in us. So why are we settling for the bare minimum? Right now, the city is only contributing about 4% above the required budget minimum for education. But our students are not
minimal. Our needs are not minimum. Our future should not be treated like if these cuts go through, class sizes will grow, teachers will be overworked, and students will fall through the cracks. And we're the feel that. >> I'm asking you to listen. Not just hear
us, but really listen because we keep showing up for a reason. Please prioritize education and invest in us because Chelsea students deserve more than the bare minimum. Thank you. >> Good evening. I'm Jillian Barnes. I'm a junior.
Chelsea public schools has from day one that you are invested in our education and success. Yet, this school system spends all of the funding on a $6 million cafeteria that we don't need, yonder pouches that don't actually help students learn and touchscreen
Chromebooks that are that should only be used with accommodations but are given randomly and new jobs at central office that pay six figures even though they don't help to students success succeed in school. But we do either way. Now
you're going to fire 70 teachers within this district. When teachers are the first step, the front liners to our education. Teachers don't only teach, but they support each and every student. They help students like me through mental breakdown, stress with school,
and violence within our community. Once I got my report card back and I didn't get a grade that I liked. I didn't go to central office when I needed support during a panic attack. It was Sarah Ready. It was Britney Fitzgibbon, my
teacher since freshman year and this year who helped me get through the tough moment and to remind me that I am strong and I can continue to keep pushing because I know I can achieve great things. This is not an uncommon story
for students at CHS. If you fire so many teachers, you get rid of our future. Thank you for listening. Hi, my name is Nathan. I'm a junior at Chelsea High School and I feel that these cuts will do more harm than good because not only counselors are being cut, which can leave students who are
trying to figure stuff out, such as the SATs, programs like Upwardbound and Harvard tutoring and college advice, but the but teachers who are the base of education are in jeopardy because of the thing these things that are out of our control, such as the ice rates creating fear in Hispanic communities, causing
low enrollment in schools. That's why I'm wondering if there are any other measures the board can do maybe to limit the budget cut such as maybe cutting areas that don't work with the student body of course since next year there will be seven periods less teachers and more classes will cause more problems
that teachers have more students to worry about and counselors having more students to review causing a delay of applications such as college applications. This could also be something to change that could limit the instability for
teachers jobs um and counselor jobs and especially the students who are affected more by these changes. What if we as a community raise money creating fundraisers or renting spaces such as the gym or possibly
business funding like corporations? Though I know you may have thought of these solutions already, you have to understand that we the students are scared that our education is danger and so is our future. >> Good evening. My name is Katie Ortega and I'm a senior at CHS. Prior to the
making of this poster, my plan was to draw a tally mark for each individual student at Chelsea High School who is going to be affected by these budget cuts. That number is 1,532. But then I realized it is not only Chelsea High students who are going to
be affected. Students at the Edgar F Elementary School, Frank M. Sakalowski Elementary School, George F. Kelly Elementary School, William A. Brookwoods Elementary School, Brown Middle School, Wright Science and Technology Academy, Clark Avenue Middle School, Chelsea
Virtual Learning Academy, and Chelsea Opportunity Academy as well. To include all students in the district, I had to draw 5,749 individual tally marks. If I were to have my largest class, which is 30 students, help me draw all 5,749
tally marks, each student would have to draw 190 tally marks. If you move forward with these cuts, you will hurt 5,749 students and their families. How is it that in six years, admin positions in the central office have doubled? Retired
individuals are still getting paid with money that could be beneficial to the youth of Chelsea. It will literally hurt too many students for me to show you. Protect my little brother's education. Do not cut the positions of people who support, educate, and protect students every day. There are other options.
Thank you. GOOD AFTERNOON. My name is Kimberly and I'm a Chelsea resident in a youth collaborative and I am here to advocate for both the teachers and the students regarding the current situation. Everyone in this room is here because we strongly disagree with the proposed
budget cuts, especially considering that approximately 70 teachers are leaving. Teachers are an essential part of every school. They help the students grow, learn and prepare for the future. As we the students are the future. Recently, method teachers have already left and now they are continuing to leave. This
will have a significant impact not only on the teacher but also on the students. Class sizes will become much larger which can also create a stressful learning environment for both students and the single teacher responsible for managing an overcrowded classroom. Students need teacher who care about them, support them and guide them in the
right direction. This is why we are here today to show that teachers are not alone. We are here today to support them and to show how much they truly matter to our schools and our community. When teachers stay, schools become stronger and better places for every student. So, please consider these cuts. THANK YOU.
GOOD EVENING. My name is Rachel Whitney and I've been a school counselor at the high school for seven years. As of March 11th, the counselors at the high school this year have logged 5,671 interactions in Aspen, directly supporting students and their families.
These include academic guidance, social emotional support, college and career advising, family support meetings, and crisis intervention. So far this year, we've hosted four financial aid events, one eighth grade registration day, and five on the spot events to help students with college applications. Through the
on the spot events alone, we had 236 college acceptances. We also have recruited and supported four MASSA clinics during school days, two college and career fairs, a scholarship day, and participated in two college fairs to expand opportunities for students.
Cutting two positions would mean fewer interactions like these, less personalized support, and fewer opportunities to step in before small challenges become major obstacles. The American School Counseling Association recommends a maximum case load of 250
students per counselor. This is a broad recommendation for all education levels. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are 35 states who currently report school counselor ratios split by level. And the range reported for high school
counselors is 195 to 224. If two counseling positions are cut, our case loads would be over 255, which would put us well above the national reported high school average. Our students and families rely on counselors to navigate academic, social, emotional
challenges and planning for life beyond high school. Maintaining these positions ensures that every student continues to have adults who know them, advocate for them, and provide consistent guidance. This is not just about numbers. It's about the real impact counselors have on the lives of students and families in
our community. I'm urging you to please maintain these counseling positions and continue investing in the supports that help Chelsea students succeed. Our students deserve nothing less. They are not just numbers. Thank you. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Veronica. I
am mother for um one student for Chelsea High and she can speak English because she doesn't really know too much Express yourself questions. She's here because she wants to express her sincere gratitude what Chelsea
Public School has done. First, she has wants to express the fact that her daughter is in 12th grade and how Chelsea Public Schools has helped her. She wants to express her gratitude to her um counselor that helped her a lot because she used to have a lot of problems with her daughter back in the
days when she was going to other schools. So, she wants to have a lot of gratitude towards her because how she helped her daughter. middle schools. She wants you to consider the cuts that you are proposing because these kids need the services. And there's also the
cuts that you're considering for the middle schools because All those kids are going to come to the high school. So you need to consider that for the other children. Another thing that she's heard about want to implement as a new learning tool here at
school We're giving her a little bit more time because she's being translated testing. I just want to remind you that a computer is not going to replace a social worker. I also want to remind you
a computer is not a person. These children benefit from having um social workers and a school counselor because they're the ones who going to listen to them because a computer can't give them hugs, can't give them reassurance like the social worker and guidance counselor can.
I also want to um give my gratitude and also thank the committee for giving us the space to communicate this like a parent also the um residents as well as the teachers here. We want to thank you for that opportunity because we need to
know that we are supported. Okay, we gave her four minutes. Um, I'm going to ask again, please refrain from the clapping, the yelling because we can't hear the person that's speaking and it's cutting into their time. So, I keep reiterating that. Please, at the
end when they done talking, clap all you want. Scream and whatever you want to do, but please let them finish. Thank you. Hi, my name is Joseline. I am singer. Okay, she's going to be translated for
us. So, we're going to give her extra time just so you guys know. And the person in the back is the microphone. Thank you. This is her last year and she has benefited from having her social worker
in her guidance closet. She can't fathom that they're going to be let go. She's very heartbroken that this is going to happen. She says she's um in 11th grade. She got a lot of support from her guidance counselor as well as a social worker.
She now is going to go to college after this. Because of them, she's going to succeed and she has a future because of their services. They came. She wants the community to understand that this is like when you have a child
and a child who's taken away from the parent, how they feel. You're going to take away services that a lot of the community needs, especially people who are vulnerable. This is something that you should reconsider and please take into account the necessities of other
people as well as um the students here. She speaks on behalf of the other kids that are here that couldn't be here because either the parent or them had to work. She talks on behalf of Miss Mah, Miss Wares that because of them, she knew English and she knows how to speak
English and she could defend herself. It's a something that the community needs and that please reconsider letting the go and reconsider this in proposal for the budget cuts. That's it. is Josephine Flores. I am a very proud
bilingual social worker at Chelsea High School and have been since 2021. I've also lived in Chelsea since 2018. This is my community and one I deeply deeply care about. I recently learned my position is being cut. When roles like this disappear, students lose a trusted adult, families lose someone to call
when life feels overwhelming, and schools lose support that keeps students connected to learning. Social workers in Chelsea are also first responders after after community tragedies or violence. We help students process trauma, support staff, and connect families to resources. I've had the privilege of
working with multilingual learners and new former students, young people navigating a new language, a new school system, often a new country, and in many cases, fear of immigration enforcement. This fear has a direct devastating impact on mental health, increasing anxiety, depression, and isolation.
Mental health support in schools isn't optional. It's often the only support our families can access due to insurance, transportation, and language barriers. In Suffach County, there's roughly one mental health provider for every 99 residents. This year, districtwide mental health screening
showed that Chelsea students experience roughly twice the national average for clinical anxiety and depression. Screening alone is simply not enough without intentional intervention. Cutting positions like mine would overload staff and reduce the individualized support students depend
on to succeed. Even Enrollment numbers decline, the need for authentic human connection and mental health support is exponentially rising, not shrinking. Systemic inequities should never mean fewer resources for the students who remain in the community we care for. Maintaining social work and student
facing positions is essential. It's how Chelsea Public Schools lives out its mission of relationships, equity, and support and ensures that every student has the care and guidance to thrive. Much gracias. Hello. Um, my name is Arachib and I am a
freshman here in CHS. I, unlike many students here, don't have much of like a strong relationship between many of the adult um, adults here. But given the situation we're in, I can conclude that the solution provided by you guys is
pretty much pointless. Um, reducing the amount of educators and adults in this building isn't going to solve anything, but instead make things worse. Um, based off of what based off of what you're saying, your goal is to reduce the amount of people you pay to save money. Um, but removing the people who keep
this building together isn't going to solve anything, but instead reduce the amount of students who come the next years. I fear for my future as each day passes, knowing that the people who have been here for me will not be here anymore. The connections that have grown and bloomed and flourished through trial
and error will be ripped apart by sledgehammer. And I must say that I'm not here to side against, you know, other people or argue with others. But I do wish to open your eyes and let you guys see that this issue requires cooperation. This issue isn't a concern
for teachers or city hall alone. This is an issue that will affect all of us teachers and counselors and don't even get me started on the students themselves. We need to understand that things are sadly inevitable. But it doesn't mean we can't find solutions. Removing or laying off teachers will
need to be done. But like around 70 of them is quite a push, especially regarding the fact that these educators assist with multilingual students, special needs, and the future of students themselves. We need to focus on a solution rather than a target. We need to understand that we are all in this
together. No doubt it. Thank you for your time. >> Good evening. My name is Estella Diaz and I'm a freshman here at Chelsea High. Teachers are the backbone in every society. They teach math, science, history, English, and many other subjects. They help students help passions here in the medical field,
STEM, arts, and many others. Many teachers and direct staff members are the reason why some students want to keep learning to keep coming to school every day. Teachers show up every day before and after school helping, teaching, advocating for students who can. This is no longer a conversation
about firing 70 teachers. Is a conversation that affects every single student here in this district. This will this this is and will affect everybody. in education. My spe My speech isn't here to yell at the man and change at a blink of an eye. My speech is about how
seven teachers will leave a lasting mark and how students will continue to be learning. Mr. Roger, Mr. Bailey, and Miss Alder are teachers who who personally impacted me and helped me understand that it's okay to not always feel the best in the moments that are hard for me. And I want people to
continue having those feelings of having adult that they can go to. And stop looking at us with money green eyes like we're charts on a graph. Please look at us like we're humans cuz we are one.
>> Thank you. Too short for me. Sorry. Uh good evening. I just want to say thank you so much for continuing to listen and give um everybody's speech the attention that it deserves. It's been a long night. I think we can all agree. Um my name is Sarah Ross. I'm an MLE uh teacher at the Kelly School. I'm also a parent in the district. Um even though
um we're out of district, my daughter attends the early learning center. I pay $1,200 a month approximately so that she can attend school there because I care that much about the educators here and education she's receiving there. It's really important to me. So, thank you. Um we all has a huge um ELELLL
population. Um and uh the Kelly School has the I'm sorry, Kelly School has the highest concentration of English language learners in the district. And we know that um tailored support, small groups, immediate fat, feedback are things that help English learn language
learners grow. Um these uh proposed cuts will drastically reduce that support. Uh even brief check-ins can help students with their understanding. Um, but that takes time and that takes staff. And when we're cutting staff, we're reducing those um those outcomes. English
language learners already have significantly higher dropout rates than their peers. Um the data can show that cutting approximately 14 ML positions across the district will create the exact conditions that contribute to these outcomes. We want our students to
succeed and we know that you do too. Um so we want to keep positions that um help students access to learning and help them with their futures. I urge the committee to consider the impact on our most vulnerable students. Um I also wanted to say that um teachers, MLAs,
parents, all students and staff, student facing staff are held accountable every day just spent hours and hours putting in artifacts in vector. I don't know if anyone else did. Um I just wanted to um say, you know, we have to show every day we have to document how our work, what
we're doing directly impacts all of our students. Um and I think that um communities are ask the community members are asking that um the district puts forth that transparency as well. Um if we're keeping 25 plus district administrator positions, they're being protected. Um
>> so much I'm all done. Okay. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Isaiah Martinez and I a senior at Chelsea High School. I wish I could say I was meeting you all under better circumstances, but I here to talk about the budget and finance crisis that we have been faced with
today. Administration staff have increased by at least 15 since 2020. And yet, I haven't met a single administration member until today. You all received a salary beyond that of our school staff whom you are cutting 70 plus staff districtwide. And yet, we as students are left having to face the re
repercussions with our school staff getting fired. Our school staff all play a bigger role to our future of our youth as a whole. It's imperative to emphasize the importance of the wonderful school staff who have already spent so much time teaching students who are hard-headed. It may just be a day of the
work for you guys, but for a school staff that are always there managing the students, it's much more than a job. These teachers and counselors have saved lives and have given students a better future. I know if I haven't met some of my teachers, then I wouldn't have been able to be the person I am today.
Especially as someone who's had trouble connecting to my family. And knowing this that I have this extra guidance from my wonderful teachers and counselors around me lifts my spirits. These staff we lose from these budget cuts will take a huge toll on our community as a whole. With the amount of
resources that could be potentially cut, not only are you cutting out our education, but our future as well. why we look into fire helps create our future instead of looking for more equitable alternatives. Thank you. >> Good evening everyone. My name is
Jonathan Gonzalez and I am a pan. I currently have a daughter at Chelsea High School. I'm here because I feel it is my obligation to advocate not only for my family but also for the students and the future within my city. As parent. I strongly believe that cutting
teacher and school counselor positions would greatly hurt our students and have it and it will have a great impact in the school community. It will lead to poor school performance, fewer supports for students, and less opportunities for their future. The success of our
students doesn't happen on its own. It happens because of specific staff such as our hardworking teachers and extremely dedicated school counselors. Teachers do more than just teach a lesson. They guide students and help them grow as individuals. Our school
counselors are equally important. They play a critical role in helping students stay on track, support students emotionally and socially, help student manage challenges, and guide them in planning for college and future careers. As the first college
graduate of my family, I know what it is to have a support and a strong guidance counselor. I can personally say I have seen the impact that Chelsea High School counselor Miss Naomi Mahia and Miss Lawrence have had on my daughter and her peers. With teachers and school counselors without excuse me, without
teachers and school counselors, many students may not reach their full potential. I strongly urge the committee to reconsider these cuts and invest in the people who make our school strong and who are the front line. Please remember how these decisions would seriously affect our students and
impact their future. I ask each student in this room to continue to voice your opinion matters. Chelsea strong. Thank you for your time. >> Good evening committee members. My name is Dimasova. Uh, I am a resident of
Chelsea my entire life and I'm a proud uh product of the Chelsea public school system as well. Um, I'm an educator here. I work in special education here at Chelsea High School. Uh, I became an educator because during my time here, there were educators that had a massive influence on my life that helped me turn
into the person that I am today. And I was so shaken by the fact that they took the time to help me and shape me. And I wanted to do the same. I wanted to become a positive influence to the kids in my community and pay it forward to the community that I grew up in. This
should be a success story and it should be something that we feel pride in. Yet, it does not feel like it at all. I try to feel pride about this, but this is not the emotion I feel in this moment. I feel dread. I feel pain. And most of all, committee members, I feel shame
because in the past two years, I have watched as this district treats their studentf facing employees as expectable, as if we are numbers that can be reduced. This simply cannot continue to happen. We have families, we have children, we are soon to be parents. We have sick family members to take care
of, but this does not stop after cuts are done. You may hear this and hear hostility and anger. And frankly, you'd be right. you are playing with the jobs and livelihoods of us and our families. So before I say anything that goes over the line, I'm going to end with this.
Chelsea says that they are a district that prides itself on knowing every student's name, strength, and story. But how many of you can confidently say that you know the name, strength, and story of more than maybe 10 students? Because I can tell you that I know the name, strength, and story of more than 30
students. And I promise you that almost every teacher, para, counselor, social worker in this room can say the same. So if you really want to continue to build every student's name, strength, and story, your team is right here in this room and with your staff across the
district, you must continue to preserve student facing positions as much as you can or Chelsea will continue to lose its name, strength, and story. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening everyone. Thank you for allowing me a minute to speak. Um I'm a parent and a lifelong
resident of Chelsea. Um my youngest is currently a junior of Chelsea High School. Throughout her time as a student in the Chelsea public school systems, she has had some amazing teachers and mentors. Thank you for your ongoing dedication to the students of our community. I want to express how proud I
am of every student that spoke today. There is no easy solution here, but I plead that you please try to do your best to save as many of the social work and guidance roles as you can. Our kids need their support. For some of our youth, this is the only support they
receive. Mental health is a huge factor for most students. It's also a huge factor for most adults. Keep this in mind as we help prepare our youth to be the best possible adults they can be. The decisions made tonight or as we go
through this process will impact them for years to come. Thank you and may God bless us all as we navigate through these challenging times. I have faith that we can figure this out. It's the Chelsea way. My name is Jonathan. Thank you for being
here today. I know it's a pretty long night. Um I am a social scientist and an educator here at Lacativa in Chelsea. Um I hold a bachelor's in business um a masters in public policy and a graduate certificate in urban analytics. So why I
tell you this um is even with that background um I've struggled to follow uh what's being presented by this committee um in these meetings. So, I can only imagine how our neighbors feel um especially in the future when you
guys drive your youth to illiteracy because of these budget cuts. Um so, I'll keep it short. I know there are many voices here tonight. Um but I want to remind this our community that we the people pay the taxes so that we can be meaningfully represented and
representation means more than attendance. We've heard this very committee praise this presentation as thorough and detailed. And yet that data is difficult for an everyday person to interpret. If the people of Chelsea cannot understand
what's being shared, how are we supposed to make informed decisions, right? How are we supposed to hold anyone accountable? And I go I'll go on to say that accessibility is not a courtesy. It's a democratic obligation. But beyond
that, something that has been completely absent from your discussions and presentation is the youth. Everything this committee has presented has addressed what the administration is managing, budgets, logistics, systems. Not once have I heard how any of this
affects Chelsea's youth right now or what future it's building for them other than what comes out of the mouth of the people who are directly being affected. We are human beings. We are not line items. So, I want to remind this committee, this committee, and speak
directly to Chelsea that you were put in these seats to represent us. Not to look at struggling students with the struggling and oppressed community and say that's just how it is. Your job and our expectation is that you say, "Let's
work together to figure this out because education isn't just a budget and the time is up. Hello. Okay. My name is Elizabeth Portoy, Chelsea resident, former and proud Chelsea schools employee and current mental health clinician at the
MGH Student Health Center at Chelsea High School. I'd like to first acknowledge the daunting task in front of you. Um, cutting positions in a district that always means more, not less. At Chelsea schools, we have licensed clinicians in addition to school counselors. They are our social
workers in our district. They see students for top tier issues. Think substance use, abuse and neglect, sexual assault, self harm, suicidality, homicidality, mood disorders, depression, anxiety, PTSD, acute stress, uh facing deportation, um imminent loss
of housing, the list goes on. The older kids get, the more prevalent these issues are. Prevention and early intervention are paramount, yes, but the high school is a league all their own. The high school social worker being cut is a licensed clinician with a background in DCF, hospitals, social
work pedigogy, and she is a native Spanish speaker. We cannot afford to lose a social worker with her clinical and cross-cultural skills. Enrollment is down, but I implore you to consider how our dip in numbers reflects the hostile climate in which immigrants and children of immigrants are living. Numbers may be
lower, but Stress, anxiety, and trauma are skyrocketing. Children and teens self harm. They contemplate suicide. Some of them complete suicide. YBS data shows that 20% of youth seriously contemplate suicide with 9.5% attempting suicide.
How can we eliminate someone in the department qualified and designated to assess students for safety and other mental health acuities? Miss Flores's kids don't fall through the cracks. She works too hard and she cares too much. She finds time for students in need on her busiest days. And I beg you to
reconsider this cut. Please look at alternatives. Although I know how hard it is. If you knew the students stories, you'd know that at one point they needed help. If you knew their strength, you'd know it took a village. And if you knew their names, you would be Miss Flores, Miss Mia, or Miss Lawrence.
Hello, my name is Xavier Aso and I am an 11th grader here at Chelsea High School. And I would like to personally also thank you for the time that we have even though it is such a short time to be speaking with you guys directly. But I would like to say that the budget is a
real problem in the school and it shows how all the grades and schools in this district have staff that are being cut. And this is shown by MLE teachers and reading supporters and writing supporters being cut. And this will definitely
this will definitely hurt our future because we have students here that are new to English. We have students here that are new to reading, new to writing that might not know how to do simple tasks because we are cutting the teachers that support them with these
things. I haven't been here for that long. I just got here because I am a military family and I have thought that Chelsea would have been the best place for me to stay considering I have family, friends and support here. My teachers have helped me. Miss Duffy has helped me. Miss Lima has helped me. Miss
Buddy has helped me. Miss Jasper has helped me with chemistry. All these people have helped me with all the things I worried about. My my counselor, Miss Maher, has helped me. And you you try to cut them. You try to do all this stuff when we have phone policies that people don't even follow. We have yonder
couches that people use to break and we don't even follow these rules that you guys have decided to put up. Yet you decide to cut our counselors and cut our teachers and cut our Emily teachers and cut our early language teachers, our spad teachers that are doing so much that are helping students not with just
school but personal life. And I would just like to say that this is a this is just a disgrace to our future that all our I have family that are in fourth grade. I have family that are like sophomores below me. I have friends
family here. I don't even consider teachers as friends. I don't even consider my friends as friends. I consider them as family. And I don't know why you would decide to cut these families. But I remember writing I remember being here last week talking about how if you fire our teachers
>> Excuse me. Sorry. >> Well, if you tie if you fire our teachers, you fire our future. That's all I'm going to say. My name is Gina Restiano. Good evening everybody. It's nice to see all of you even though it's under not so great circumstances. Uh budget decisions always reflect
priorities and the question for all of us tonight is what and who are we choosing to prioritize. I believe we are all reading the same book entitled name strength and story but I want to make sure we are all on the same page. As a PE teacher at the high school, this budget cut kind of feels like a soccer
game where we are actively taking players off the field while keeping the same number of coaches on the sidelines. Coaches are important, leadership matters, but the game itself is played by the people on the field. If you start removing too many players, eventually you don't have a team. You have people talking, planning, and analyzing the
game, but not enough people to play it. In our schools, teachers and support staffs are the players on the field. They are the ones teaching the lesson, supporting the student who is struggling, and building relationships that make learning possible. In the last six years, admin level positions have more than doubled. I don't claim to be a
math teacher, but here's the equation. Enrollment dropped by 350 students, so subtract 70 student plus basic positions, but zero administrators. I'm not saying you should cut the entire cabinet, but we should at least try to make it equitable. What good is all the extended enrichment programs if we don't
have enough people to help the students from 8 to 2:30. I will never be able to understand what it means to be a person of color. However, I've been in Chelsea long enough to know this. Many of our students carry burdens far heavier than backpacks. In a community where many families live with uncertainty and fear,
school is more than a place to learn. It's a place of stability, safety, and trust. You're not just cutting jobs. You're cutting support systems. At a time when the world already feels uncertain, increasing class sizes, and reducing access to counselors and staff sends a clear message, less support when
they need it most. A team needs both coaches and players, but the game cannot happen without the players. Our students need more players on the field to help them succeed, not more coaches on the sideline watching, supervising, and taking pictures. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Victoria. I
work directly with Chelsea youth at Lao and I'm here today to stand with them. This process has been deeply frustrating not just for the adults in this room, but especially for the young people who are directly impacted by your decisions. You have violated open meeting laws, don't police our youth, and are planning to undercut their success. Not a single
slide you presented touches on the direct effects to students. Chelsea is less affluent because it's less educated. And it's less educated because it's less affluent. That reality is shaped by chronic disinvestment, health disparities, poor housing outcomes, labor exploitation, environmental
injustice, and more. It's a cycle, and instead of breaking that cycle, you are reinforcing it. Chelsea schools are already underfunded and overwhelmed. Instead of building the next generation of well-rounded professionals, we risk continuing to funnel students into low wage devalued labor. Now, you're
planning to cut over six dozen people within the Chelsea education system who are trying to prevent this. These are not excess roles. They are lifelines. Our youth are not just our future. They are our present. They have been failed, ignored, neglected, and disrespected by nearly every system that claims to serve
them. If it were just up to them, they'd have every reason to succeed. But it isn't. They're vulnerable to the whims of decision makers they are not yet old enough to elect. These kids are hardworking. They are breaking generational cycles, bringing pride and wealth to their families. These kids are kind. They maintain their humor despite
the hardship they continue to undergo. They are smarter than you realize and they show up. They are your future writers, business owners, artists, scientists, athletes, educators, doctors, and activists. Do not underestimate them. You've seen what happens when you do. Our youth are resilient, but don't mistake their
professionalism for pacivity. They will hold you accountable. So, we're asking you to do the same. Show your values through your budget. Do not wait until the consequences of these cuts hit hard when Chelsea's already struggling. While these essential roles are being cut, there's no reason for the superintendent's team of nine to be
making over a million dollars. Especially when these are not student facing roles and especially when the results are this consistently ordered. Reallocate resources, prioritize students, and break the cycle. Chelsea is watching and they deserve better. Thank you.
Good morning. My name is Nina Davidson. I am the lead school counselor at Chelsea High. I'm in my 10th year. I'm also a Chelsea resident with a case load of students that I proudly serve are multilingual learners. I'd like to start with a simple question. How much time does a student actually have with their
school counselor in a year? School counselors are the only high school staff who are required to see all students on our case loads and follow them through all four years. The American School Counselor Association recommends that school counselors 80% of their time providing direct students
direct service to students. Even if that recommendation is fully implemented over 185 school days with a case load of 188 students, our current average at CHS, each student could receive no more than 4 hours and 43 minutes of counselor
support for the entire year. That breaks down to 7 and a half minutes per week per student. Research consistently shows that when students have greater access to school counselors, graduation rates and college enrollment increase. Research also tells us that students of color, students from
low-income families and multilingual learners benefit the most from access to school counselors. If two positions um in the counselor department are cut and case increased to more than 250 students, that time drops to less than 6 minutes per week per student for about 3
hours 33 minutes for the entire year. Behind these theoretical minutes are real students in our schools. A ninth grade student who has retained working to recover credits and get back on track to graduate. A 10th grade student returning after a hospitalization, trying to catch up on miss work and
relying on the counselor they trust. An 11th grade student balancing school and work after their parent was detained and deported. Trying to help support their family. A senior navigating the college process, completing financial aid, choosing school, selecting a major, and applying for scholarships. These are not
hypothetical students. These are the realities our students face every day and how we as counselors support them. Our students deserve the and guidance that school counselors provide. Cutting counselors means cutting access to that support. So tonight's decision really comes down to one question. Is under six
minutes a week enough time to support our students futures? Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Denise Goldstein. I am an Emily teacher at the ELC and I have been working in Chelsea under various positions for 25 years. I came to Chelsea to gain experience but I stayed
because I gained something much more valuable. A hardworking multicultural and vibrant community right for bilingualism and biiteracy. And that community has shaped who I am today. They have taught me as much as I've taught them. Today, I advocate for
that community because of my experiences in it. I know what the current cuts mean because I've lived it. Our already high case loads will get higher, which means we have to give a little less time to students who have already had so much taken away from them in order to meet
all student needs. These students will be in classrooms with higher class sizes and be expected to learn the same content all while learning a new language and culture and with less in place. It is for them that I am asking us to bear this burden of budget cuts as
a community. I am asking for a balance between cuts in student facing positions and central office administrative positions for the sake of our students and their success. As educators, those of us who remain will do what we always do and we've always done in these
situations. We will take on the extra work, the higher case loads or the studenttoteer ratios, and we will our best for the community that we love. We are asking the school committee to do the best as well for our youngest and most vulnerable members of our community
when choosing which positions to cut. Thank you. >> Hello, my name is Jackie Mendoza. I'm a fifth grade multilingual educator at the WSA and a former Chelsea public school student. I've been teaching for three years at my position and I participated in the Chelsea public school system as
an older sister, a student intern and a paraprofessional since I was 17 years old. These position cuts will impact our most marginalized populations in Chelsea, multilingual learners, students on IEP and duly identified students. As a multilingual educator, I work with the
special education teachers, reading specialists, math specialists, and pair of professionals that best support our students in the classroom. Their absence in our students daily lives will be detrimental because it is them who poses the achievement gap by teaching them the foundation of reading or math the
foundations of the English lesson the English language to express themselves both academically and socially or by being a supportive and safe second adult figure. The only ones who could do this magic are the ones in the classroom nowhere else. If there is one only one
teacher in the room, you cannot ask them to take the job of three respective professionals in a classroom of 25 plus children. If you think it is, then I would like you to come down personally to experience it in our lives and tell us how it can be done. I will always be a Chelsea kid and I'm proud of where I
come from. My generation of students, we've been deflected by this achievement gap and sadly it looks like we'll continue this into the new generation due to these stress cuts. We are resilient and strong, but our fair to a fair, good, quality, and equitable education should be a right and a
priority, not the bare minimum just to meet budget requirements. Thank you. >> Hello. Uh, thank you for being here today burning the midnight oil. I know it's been a long night. I have a unique position. Oh, sorry. I'm John Maduro. I'm the science teacher over at WSDA.
I'm in the position that I have worked with a lot of people at the district level and I know that you bleed for these kids and you have passion for these kids and I know that these are tough decisions but at the same time we have made such progress in 10 years
based on an unstable political climate that is going on right now that may change in 2 and 1/2 years you will do 10 to 15 years worth of damage. The WSCA model
is something that I'm proud of and that is when I first came here it was the wild wild west and now I think our school is extremely strong. Under the guidance of Michelle Marelo and the
stability of staff in hiring teachers that were highly qualified and talented, we built a school that was based in stability, leadership, and student voice. I've never felt a situation where it was us versus you, and I think that
should continue. The second part is there is so much um education in this room that it's hard for me to believe that we cannot come to a solution on something like this. I
know you're not in an easy position. The outrage that you are feeling from the community, I call you to go to the city leaders and pour that outrage from you onto them. Thank you. MICHAEL ELLIAS, BROWN MIDDLE School
since 2016. The community is filled with apprehension and grief, and that grief will soon be rage and despair. Revenue cycles eb and flow, but the headwinds we face today have been written on the wall for quite some time. The people who welcomed all students will not be
present to educate them because the money was spent poorly in past budgets. When we were flushed with cash, why did we not use the money to build classroom level, school level, instructional capacity, and reduce reliance on high spending? In my 10 years in CPS, we've
squandered the human capital of hundreds of educators by not adequately supporting their development. Millions of dollars lost to a revolving door. The presentation mentioned nothing about investing in human capital, educators or students. Why do we buy office buildings
instead of basing coordinators and directors in schools, allowing and requiring them to spend time knowing the name, strength, and story of students and learning their needs and the needs of the educators they serve, asking the educators questions, what do you need from us?
We can't avoid it. The cuts are happening and students will lose out. But while we cut people at the point of service where each dollar is most directly serving students, we're digging a deeper hole. To date, we've received zero explanation and zero evidence of how this budget proposed maximizes
student safety, security, or provides the tools and challenges tailored to student needs. Mr. small. I appreciated the essence of your questions, but the answer cannot come at this time from the people you asked it of because the quantitative
watered down and satellite level data that we use cannot possibly explain the nuances of what students need, what drives success, and what teachers need to support their students. They don't know what's happening with students because they haven't liked the answers they've received.
And when they are asked to come and be there to see what is happening, we get 15minute visits and a short report. How can coordinators, directors, and assistant superintendent make teachers and pair professionals more effective?
I'll offer an answer and a path that we should have started down years ago. The answer is not farming out the work of consultants. It is not quarterly 15inut observations. It is not placing students in front of screen out of the standards align culturally responsive
end like everyone else has >> when I moving forwards >> and allow people to maintain collective excites
we will not keep had an equal time invest in our educators. Thank you. >> Hi, my name is Kim Sons. I'm a school nurse here at Chelsea High School. I'm going to give you a few little numbers and then a personal perspective. This
school year alone, the school health office has had se 76 separate times when a school nurse has called and collaborated with the social worker. That equals three plus days per week, which equals 64% of the days school has
been in session. And that's just one example of the numbers. We are a very small department and we are a social work social worker three plus days a week because we have to because it's a mental health issue. Um and it's it's
easy to count the number the amount of interventions that go on every day. What is not easy to quantify is the number of crises that are averted because of the work that all of the support staff puts in with the students. The work is preventive. It averts crisis. It heals.
It supports. It guides. Without a strong base of support, staff and teachers intervention with students will out of a lack of resources become reactive rather than preventive. In many cases, it will be too late. We know when it's too late.
Um, and this is objectively true. I have sat with Joselyn Flores in many circumstances where it could have it would have gone in a very very different direction had she not been there. On a personal level, I can say without a
doubt that Joselyn Flores would climb over the back of a security guard to scale a fence to get to the aid of a student in need. She Jocelyn never shies away from the challenging challenging situation. She leans in. She leans in
100% of the time. Losing Joselyn would be a devastating loss to students, to the department, to the school, and to the greater community. >> Hi, my name is Javas and uh Id like to say thank you for allowing me to speak
here. Please stay awake as I speak with you as a sign of respect. due to the limited time due to the limited time that I have and the lack of attention of your attention. I'll go straight to the point. Does it take does it have to take
many accidents, suicides attempts, and deaths for us for you to finally listen to us and acknowledge that there's something wrong? Or as what you guys usually do, just throw us in the pit and make up your soul, your purpose of that pit to be, I'll come back to you later.
Oh, pardon me. Warning. What I'm about to say might frighten you as I display such skills that I profound to learn and inherit from teachers such as Brahmaish with my stats, Miss Grant with my literature, Mr. Doug Pan with my college hope that I'm that I'm thankful that I'm able to climb up with the amount of
admissions I get from other colleges. As you display the statistics of the ratio of students and staffs, it doesn't really show what you guys stand for, what you want to see in that classroom. obviously have never seen you in a classroom to see there's 30 plus there's
30 plus students while there's one teacher in that class I last time I checked the safety that's that's a safety hazard and you guys want to like removed teachers out of that mind you there's m ruddy that I have in my junior year where there I had like at least 34
or 30 of us students and there was not enough chairs to to accommodate us. Imagine there was god forbid like an intruder. Like what do you expect me to do? I'm trying to protect myself and the teachers trying to protect all 30 of us.
That's not just right. That's one freshman orientation. As a senior, I like to give up to my community. What do you expect me to tell these seniors? My brother expect to come here and I set this foundation for him. So So he to
come here to come in a bigger mess that you sit upon here. I don't know what to that we have. >> Excuse me. Your hands up. >> Chelsea High School. My name is Naomi Mia and I'm a proud Chelsea High School graduate from the class 2010. A soccer coach in this district and one of the
two school counselor positions who is now being cut at Chelsea High School. This issue is deeply personal to me. not only as a staff member but as someone who grew up in this community and is a direct part of Justin public schools. As a school counselor, I see how every day a caring consistent adult can change a
student's life. For many students, a school counselor is the one steady adult relationship they have throughout their high school career. We help them navigate academic personal challenges and a pathway to college or career. I know what it is, but not the poison there. I grew up in an immigrant family,
lowincome family that didn't know to navigate the American education system. I never met my school counselor and even after graduating I had to figure out college and all the financial value on my own. That experience shapes how I show up for my students every day. I try to be the adult I wish I had when I was
a teenager. Cutting to cutting to school counselor position will make it much harder for the remaining counselor to truly support our students. Our student deserve adult who know their names, their strength and their story. We have made too many strike forward to go backwards. Thank you.
Hi, my name is Katie Lee and I've been a speech therapist at Chelsea High School for 5 years. This budget proposal would have a negative effect on every single student in our district, but I'm just going to speak to the impacts that I see for special education at the high school level because that's where I work. Um,
but I really strongly feel that these proposals are not in the best interest of any of our schools. My students have language-based learning disabilities and require certain accommodations and modifications so that they can learn. Cutting so many teachers means rising class sizes, which means even less time
for teachers to implement essential learning supports. This will hurt all of our students, but it's a true disservice to our most vulnerable students and a violation of their rights to a free and appropriate public education. Cuts in the classroom will make more students
struggle in school. They will need more support and when they need support we tell them to turn to their social workers and counselors. It is frightening to me that you are also proposing cutting those supports when we know that those people literally save the lives of our students. Right now I
see a budget that does not prioritize student learning. I see a budget that will hurt students with disabilities. I see a budget that will make workloads for school counselors and social workers completely unmanageable, putting student safety at risk. Our students will suffer
if this budget moves forward as proposed. Thank you for staying here to hear us out in the middle of the night. Now, I urge you all to please listen to us. Trust that the Chelsea public schools have educated our students well. They know what they need to succeed. Trust
the educators that are spending every day working tirelessly. We know what is best for our schools and our students. We know that you can't make money appear out of thin air. Um, but we also know that you're capable of making different choices that better prioritize the student-f facing positions that have the
most consistent direct impact on our students. I refuse to believe that this is the best that we can do for our students. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Kellyanne Curley. I've been a multilingual educator at the ELC for 10 years and I'm
the interimm VP of the Chelsea teachers union while our amazing VP is out on parental leave with her family. I've been attending school committee meetings for the past few years and I've noticed that family is a word I hear a lot in this space to describe cabinet central office and the school committee. I would
like to name a few of the other families that I see. I see school families, co-workers supporting each other through a challenging job. I see classroom families, students helping each other put on a coat, tie a shoe, or hug a crying friend. And most importantly, I
see the families of our students. All of these families are facing loss. Of course, it's going to be hard to cut or restructure positions as central office positions held by people you consider family. It's not ideal. We are only asking that the cuts be proportional,
that you model working through hard decisions during challenging times. With the surplus money from SR and the S SOA, we are getting so close to giving students the support they deserve. I saw my own case decrease from 200 students to 100 just now. My case load is still
three times the recommended case load for my position, but we were making progress as a district to support students, especially special education and multilingual learners. If this if this many studentf facing staff are cut, it will directly affect
the people of Chelsea. We have been told not to take this personally. We are asking you to do the same. Every school had to make cuts, even schools that did not have a drop in enrollment. We are asking that the cuts at there be cuts at central office only to save positions that support students directly. It's
truly not personal. All of our jobs will be different next year. It will be hard for everyone who works here. We should not make it hard for the students. Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Claudia Larry and I'm finishing my eighth year as a proud multilingual history teacher in
the Bridger Academy at Chelsea High School. As many of you know, working with newcomers requires flexibility. When I started at CHS in fall 2018, our classrooms looked much as they do this year. Pretty small. That year was my first and prior to this year only year
that CHS suffered serious budget cuts. My department was hit harder than other departments just as we are anticipating for this upcoming year. You're laying off about 45% of my department including our Gita misses. And what happened after those layoffs? Obviously, newcomer
enrollment surged nearly 80% of Chelsea High School. Thanks to the planning of our incredible former coordinator, we were ready, or at least as ready as we could ever be. Our counselors worked weekends and nights to enroll 125 to 150 newcomers each year for 5 years. We
welcomed, educated, and loved all of them. We were ready to be flexible, but the district wasn't. It took us just as long to restore those positions and now we see them cut again. And I want to be very clear here. I'm not suggesting that we are owed jobs just because we work
hard to support immigrant families. This is simply a reminder that some things in this life are evergreen. Migration has existed since the dawn of the human race. Despite the efforts of this current administration, there will always be immigrants seeking hope and refuge here. There may not be many of
them here today, but more will be here sooner than you think. And quite frankly, the plans I have heard from district leadership to manage the falling class sizes in newcomer classrooms are not realistic, not flexible, and not future proof to meet their needs. Our students have risked
everything to come here. We will be ever ready to receive our immigrant families with the love, respect, and dignity that they deserve. And this budget does none of that. Thank you. >> Hello, I'm Thomas Bernier and I'm an MLE
teacher at Chelsea High School. Uh before I go further, I'd like to offer my sympathies to you, Dr. Odeta, who lost my own father to cancer. I love teaching at Chelsea High School. My students drive me, my colleagues support me, and I feel this city's community represents some of the best
that America is and could become. Every Chelsea educator I can name, past or present, would agree with me on all three of those things. The students, our colleagues, the community. And yet, every year I've been at Chelsea High School, without layoffs, almost a third of the staff has turned over. I have a
bit here about why that's bad for students, but we have heard more than I can say about that. I have never heard an educator say they are leaving Chelsea because of their students or their colleagues or the community. One reason I have heard repeatedly is a lack of faith in our
leaders. When educators lose faith in their leaders, good people who love working at Chelsea leave and that hurts our students. We know deep painful cuts are unavoidable this year. What is avoidable is the damage that the district has done to our faith in them
by being 15 days late with a full budget presentation, shortening the window during which the school community can provide input, running roughshod over what our contract says about how staff will be informed of layoffs, and above all by presenting a budget that ignores everything said by both staff and family
in the so-called listening sessions, coming primarily from positions that touch directly on students lives while leaving essentially untouched people who spend their times in meetings instead of classrooms. This loss of faith was avoidable, but is also reparable. Listen to us now, the educators, families, and above all, the
students of Chelsea. Thank you. >> Hi everyone. My name is Denise Granis and I am the ELAB teacher at the high school. Uh, thank you for your time tonight. I know it's quite late and I appreciate your continued attention. Um, I've been an educator, a teacher in the
classroom for 31 years, and this is my second year at Chelsea High. And I really admire Chelsea's commitment to name strength and story to her tonight because it's unique and it really shows that you value the individuals that
students are. And I'm going to echo what so many people have already said tonight and ask that you continue that commitment by not cutting student facing positions. I know that you've heard really meaningful and uh emotional testimony from students about what
happens when teachers and counselors and social workers leave. But I want you to also consider what happens to the educators that remain who have more kids under their purview with whom to establish personal relationships and how much this impacts the quality of those
relationships and how much that matters. My fourth period AP literature class has 32 students and my fifth period class has a lot less and I've written a lot more college essays for my period 5 kids because I know them. So my
recommendation is that you continue to look for other ways to close the budget. Some suggestions have been given to you tonight and I continue by saying instructional technologies underutilized digital platforms district and building admin consulting companies. You should look to
first because >> or I should add in addition the face in the face of all this impressive community support I can't imagine that you can't go back to the city and ask for more money from the residents and the students of Chelsea. Um because if
you care about the kids and do want them known by their names, their strengths, and their stories, then you shouldn't cut the positions of the people who know them. Thank you. Uh good evening school committee. My name is Lucy Shanker. This is my eighth year teaching uh at the Bron Middle
School uh history. I'm proud that this is the only school I've ever taught at and that Chelsea is the only community I've ever taught within. Uh our job is not easy and I can accept that. I can accept that your job likewise is not
easy. I can accept that cuts must be made somewhere. I could even accept and my principal Katie Cook is over there. I will even accept as a matter of public record a cut to my stipen as the history lead teacher at EMS. I cannot accept
what I see as a capitulation to the barbarity of ICE abducting our children from our community. Uh I cannot accept that 70 or more building level studentf facing positions must go for our budget.
Uh I cannot accept that we have enough money somewhere in the budget for five retired administrators to serve as consultants. Uh we have a officer a student success planning a position that was created post 2020 but I would
question how successful we expect our students to be when they are shephered next year into classrooms with 30 or more of their peers. I am a bleeding heart and I accept that. Uh I accept that being a member of upper
administration requires some level of clear-headed pragmatism. So pragmatically, if your role makes you accountable to the people of Chelsea and this community as your constituents, the budget as proposed is a dereliction of duty.
How do we expect students to be successful when there are larger class sizes, higher studenttoteer ratios, fewer life and special ed educators, multilingual educators, all of which affect a large proportion of our students that we see every day. what you
are doing sets a precedent. Uh it gives our students, our children a object lesson in power, namely that they don't have any and that people that do do not have their best interests at heart. Thank you. Yes. Good evening. My name is D. Shay
and I teach first grade inclusion at the Sakalowski. The proposed budget reductions are deeply concerning. I'm particularly troubled that no central office positions appear to have been considered for consolidation or reduction as part of this process. Dr.
Aita, you alone make about three times my salary. That could be the second, third, and fourth grade positions proposed to be cut at Soo. While we understand that declining enrollment impacts funding, it's important to recognize that students are more than numbers on a roster. Enrollment figures
do not fully capture the increasingly complex and diverse needs of the children we serve today. Not every child has an IEP. Yet, every child has unique learning needs. Not every student is formally identified as a language learner. Yet all students, especially in
early grades, such as first grade where I teach, are developing critical language and vocabulary skills at a rapid pace. Currently, educators are already working hard to meet the needs of 20 to 25 students in each classroom. Increasing class sizes due to staffing
reductions will make it significantly more difficult to provide the level of support and instruction our students deserve. I heard tonight that we are overstaffed and that increased sizes are not going to be a substantial amount. I
ask according to who? Because whoever is determining those numbers is not in the classroom. Larger class sizes place additional mental and emotional demands on teachers, stretching their capacity and impacting the quality of instruction. I invite you to please not come for a
15minute walkrough or a picture, but invite you to please sub in my classroom of six-year-olds for a few days and then let me know if you still think we're overstaffed or that a few extra kids don't make a substantial difference in how the day goes. As educators, our goal
is not simply to meet expectations at a basic level. We strive to pres pro provide the best possible school experience for every student. While budget reductions may be tied to moment. The impact of these cuts will be felt most by the students who remain in
our schools. For these reasons, I urge to carefully consider how to build relationships for all. Uh, good evening members of the school committee, family, staff. My dear students, it's way past your bedtime. My
name is Darren Don. I'm the AP chemistry teacher. And before I begin, I want to extend my deepest uh sympathies to your doctor upon hearing the hard news. Um, I'm the AP chemistry teacher and honors chemistry teacher here at CHS. When I
first came for an interview, I walked into the AP chemistry class that was dark with four students in it. And forgive my calculations because these were back of the envelope on the way here. I believe it is now in the top five to 10% um in enrollment in AP chemistry over
the course of this time. This is a monumentous improvement across our school. And I want to direct that to an observation that was made by another teacher who I invited a regional expert in chemistry to observe my students. to
which he told me bluntly, "Your students are normal teenagers. Yes, they gossip about trifling Tik Tok, 90-day fiance scandals, and whatever new thing I failed to understand in my age. But they are cheerful, brilliant,
inquisitive. They are just like any young scientist, engineer, and professional. Education, science, and all aspects of what we do has a long shared history of mentorship of building strong relationship between students and teachers that have allowed us to push
the boundaries of human knowledge. This acquires of course students and teachers but how can we expect to maintain strong relationship between students and teachers to create the next generation of STEM professionals when there are fewer teachers. I understand that the
budget is tight and I do not envy any of your positions, but I understand they need to be made. But my only question is, is it truly necessary to cut this many studentf facing positions? It's harder for our students to thrive when there are fewer of us creating those strong mentorship
bonds with less time to nurture them individually. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Katherine Anderson. I've been a special education teacher at the Brown Middle School since 2013 and I'm the president of the Chelsea Teachers Union. Thank you all for being here tonight. And Dr. Vader, condolences go out to you. What we see
here tonight and what we saw last week is incredible. students, staff, and community members all coming together to say with a clear voice, prioritize student and family facing positions. We understand that so much of this budget cycle is out of our control. We did not make the racist immigration policies of federal government. We did not write a
school funding formula underestimates inflation and provides no brace for districts experiencing loss. But we know that we can fight back against each of these things. We are working to make our schools safe and welcoming. We are fighting at the state level for more funding. Right now, we are asking that Chelsea public schools take
responsibility where we can. Yes, we have fewer students, which means less funding, but that does not mean that the cuts need to land the heaviest on our students with disabilities, our language learners, our children striving to read. In one single year, we are on track to wipe out nearly half the gains of the Student Opportunity Act. The budget, as
proposed, brings us down to school staffing levels last seen in 2022 and 2023. October 1st student enrollment is down just about under 6%. A 6% reduction in staff is 50 positions. Instead, nearly 80 of our members were told their position is being reduced. In 2020, the
district adminto student ratio was 1 to 521. Next year, will be 1 to 250. Our class sizes and case loads are finally starting to reflect the learning conditions our students deserve. Our district is building a diverse, caring, and highquality workforce that better reflects and serves our students.
Hundreds of staff members, students, and community members are coming out to make their voices heard and ask for a budget that is balanced, but that is not balanced primarily on the backs of our most vulnerable students. Yes, this is hard, but making the hard choices our community is asking for will build trust and move us toward the schools our
students deserve. The superintendent's office and the school committee have agency, power, and responsibility. We are all watching how you use it. Please do write by us. Thank you. Thank you everyone and that has been here with us through
this meeting. Thank you for your support. Thank you for all your comments and expressing how you felt. I hope that we were good receivers of your information and
we are we have listened. We have paid attention and we will take into consideration everything and we will continue to try to change this budget to work better for everyone.
Um at this moment I ask A motion to adjurnn. >> I have to close public comment. I almost forget something. Um, close public comment. Can I get a motion to adjourn? >> Thank you everyone. Have a nice evening.
Be safe and get