Facing $18 million deficit, Brockton Public Schools to eliminate 130 positions, superintendent says

BROCKTON, Mass. — Brockton Public Schools will eliminate 130 certified staff positions, the superintendent said Monday.

The decision to cut staff came as the district faces an $18 million deficit, Superintendent Mike Thomas said in a statement.

“Since the start of the pandemic, the district’s enrollment dropped by nearly 1,350 students,” Thomas said. “After exhausting all other options and facing an $18 million deficit, the district was required to send reduction in force notices today which will result in the elimination of 130 certified staff positions.”

The layoffs represent an 8.6 percent reduction in certified positions. The Brockton Education Association, the union representing teachers and certified employees, did not respond to requests for comment.

Brockton Public Schools spokesperson Jess Silva-Hodges said this is the first round of layoffs. Non-certified employees will be notified of potential job losses before the school year ends June 16.

The district enrolled 14,906 students in the 2022-2023 school year, according to the state Department of Education. Hodges-Silva said most of the 1,350 students who left the district since 2020 have moved out of the city entirely. Most of the district’s money is allocated from the state, which has been impacted by dwindling enrollment numbers.

“While we are confident that our five-year district improvement process will encourage new families to move to Brockton, unfortunately our current enrollment does not support existing staffing levels,” Thomas said. “This is in no way a reflection of the incredible work that our educators do every day and I am greatly disappointed that it has come to this.”

High school students said they heard about the layoffs while in class on Monday.

“It’s honestly just really sad,” senior Nasirha Andread said. “A lot of the new teachers were really good, and they were really good influences, too.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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