The budget deliberation was at the forefront of the meeting, as members discussed the dire financial outlook for the school district. The superintendent presented the grim necessity of adjusting the budget to account for a projected $3.8 million increase in out-of-district tuitions, a 14% rise from the previous year.

Among the proposed solutions was the transfer of $1.2 million from unencumbered salaries to the circuit breaker account, which would help offset the out-of-district tuition costs. However, this measure alone was not enough to alleviate the budget concerns. The superintendent and committee members debated the possibility of layoffs and the resulting impact on class sizes and the quality of education. The district’s changing demographics, particularly the increase in second language students, added complexity to the budgetary challenges.

The need for crisis intervention services took center stage as the committee discussed potential staffing models to address the mental health and behavioral needs of students. The proposal to pilot a crisis intervention program in two schools before a district-wide implementation sparked debate. Concerns were raised about the current constraints on the Crisis Intervention team, which is regionally based and often overwhelmed, leading to delayed responses to school crises.

Committee members emphasized the importance of leveraging mental health staff and the expertise of Master’s level clinicians. The potential impact of budget decisions on mental health resources became a point of concern, with members advocating for the inclusion of the crisis intervention proposal in the budget despite fiscal constraints.

Other topics included the implementation of new policies and calendar adjustments. The committee reviewed a new calendar format, with members raising concerns about the observance of religious holidays and the potential impact on instructional days. The discussion touched on contractual obligations and the logistical challenges presented by state and federal holidays. The approval of the school committee calendar and parking protocols at Methuen High School were among the items that reached consensus.

The committee also grappled with the meeting logistics, debating changes to the start time of meetings to better accommodate after-school activities and staff schedules. A motion to change the start time to 6 PM was carried after a roll call vote. The nomination process for various subcommittees, including the City Charter commission representative and the audit subcommittee, were discussed, with decisions deferred to the next meeting.