Enfield teachers are fighting proposed budget which could cut 121 jobs

ENFIELD, CT (WFSB) – Enfield teachers fought back against a proposed budget that could mean more than 120 job cuts.

More than a fifth of teachers in Enfield have been told they could be out of a job in the autumn. That is if the city budget does not put enough money for education.

“Our schools have been underfunded for years and we can’t continue to do this to our city,” said Enfield teacher and parent Kelsey McGuire-Bruce.

Enfield teachers’ jobs are on the line as the city and school district work to sort out next year’s budget.

“We are struggling as it is, our staff our buildings are struggling. Students need more and deserve more,” McGuire-Bruce said.

The Enfield Teachers Union is asking the city council for an 8.68 percent budget increase in next year’s budget. That’s about $6.5 million.

The union said that’s what it will take to maintain current programs and staff.

However, some members of the local council proposed a budget increase of no more than 2%.

“The budgets I’m proposing right now would harm children. Period,” said JFK Middle School teacher Bill Delaney, VP of the Enfield Teachers Association.

Losing teachers means bigger classes.

Mayor Ken Nelson Jr. said the city is down more than $4 million because the state of Connecticut cut them more than $600,000 in special needs costs.

“If we spend 4.5%, the average cost of a student, anything above that the state should reimburse us at 100%. They don’t do that,” Nelson said.

Drawing from the rainy day fund is not an option.

“The COVID dollars came in, everyone spent the money, it had an expiration date, so everyone had to spend their money. Guess what? The money is gone,” said Enfield Town Councilor Marie Pynzar.

121 teachers were in the red, meaning their jobs are not guaranteed in the fall if the proposed 8.68 budget increase does not pass.

“These are people who have dedicated their careers to being here and now they’re outgrowing themselves trying to find another location,” said Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association.

Sheri Spaulding is a special education teacher. He was pink, he slipped on Monday, and he could lose his job.

“By having larger general education classrooms and less staff, we won’t have the same support that is needed for my special education students and that is very concerning to me,” Spaulding said.

Spaulding said he is not wasting time looking for another job.

“So whether or not we are offered a job next year, it might be too late,” she said.

The local council has until May 20 to make a budget decision.

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