Mayor James J. Fiorentini > Press Release

MAYOR:  No Way Schools Will Lose 18 Classroom Teachers

Mayor James J. Fiorentini today said that there was “no way” schools would lose eighteen (18) teachers in the middle of the year, as was indicated might happen in a recent story, and that he would not allow that to happen.

Fiorentini said that the school department has two reserve funds, one for Medicaid funding and one for salary reserves, which should cover at least part of the budget cuts.  “The salary reserve account has $300,000 in it, and the Medicaid account has an additional $300,000.  While I understand that there are overages in other areas, primarily special education, we will find a way not to cut eighteen (18) classroom teachers. 

If those reserve accounts are not sufficient, Fiorentini said that other things would be found in the school account to cut rather than classroom teachers. 

“We are not going to take eighteen (18) teachers out of the classroom in February: that would be devastating to the children” said Fiorentini.  “I will work with the other school committee members, who have all said they do not want cut to classroom teachers, to find some other way to do this.  Every member of the school committee is committed to protecting classroom teachers.  Teachers will be the last cut, not the first. ”

Fiorentini said that one other way may be the stimulus package.  “The Federal stimulus package provides millions of dollars for Haverhill public schools.  That money, if we can get it in time, may be a solution.”  Fiorentini said he would be in touch with Congresswoman Nikki Tsongas on Tuesday to see how quickly Haverhill will be able to receive the stimulus money.

“Taking 18 teachers out of the classrooms in the middle of the school year would be devastating.  I will do whatever is within my powers to make certain that does not happen.”