Budget shortfall to eliminate assistant principal positions at Wareham Public Schools

Feb 21, 2018

Assistant principals at Wareham Public Schools have been told their positions will be eliminated for the coming school year due to a looming budget shortfall, sources told Wareham Week.

Those cuts, and other drastic, yet to be confirmed measures, will likely be discussed at a public hearing scheduled during the School Committee’s Feb. 28 meeting. The hearing will start at 7 p.m. in the Wareham Middle School auditorium.

“Changes in the budget will seriously impact how our district will be operating,” Superintendent Dr. Kimberly Shaver-Hood told School Committee members earlier this month. “These potential changes are monumental and will change how education is offered in Wareham.”

The school district’s draft budget currently calls for spending $29.4 million for the upcoming school year. That figure contrasts with what town officials say is available due to lackluster revenues. In early February, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan presented a draft budget to Selectmen with $28.4 million allocated for schools.

Shaver-Hood did not confirm that the positions will be eliminated when asked by Wareham Week. She did urge residents to attend the Feb. 28 hearing to learn more about potential education cuts. Shaver-Hood noted that many options were on the table to close the budget gap.

“We’re still in the process of looking at every possible scenario,” said Shaver-Hood. “I can’t say exactly what those scenarios are.”