New report from Boston Teachers Union urges city action to prevent school staffing cuts — protect student services
BOSTON, MA – The Boston Teachers Union (BTU) today released a new report calling on city leaders to take immediate action to prevent deep cuts to school staffing and protect critical student services in Boston Public Schools.
The report, “When Student Needs Rise and Staffing Falls: An Analysis of FY27 Budget Decisions of the City of Boston and Boston Public Schools,” outlines how the proposed FY27 budget would eliminate hundreds of school-based positions — and presents a clear set of recommendations the City can adopt now to avoid those impacts.
At the center of the report is a straightforward proposal: the City has the financial capacity to act — and should.
A path forward: BTU calls on city to act
The BTU is urging Boston officials to adopt a series of targeted, fiscally grounded steps to stabilize schools and protect students:
- Commit more of the city budget to BPS to offset school-level cuts and preserve student-facing services
- Establish guardrails for high-needs schools to prevent disproportionate staffing losses
- Redirect vacancy savings back into classrooms
- Protect special education services by restoring paraprofessional staffing
- Ensure multilingual staffing cuts do not exceed enrollment changes
“These are practical, achievable steps,” said BTU President Erik Berg. “The question isn’t whether Boston can act — it’s whether the City prioritizes what students need most.”
Report underscores impact on student services
The report finds that proposed cuts would fall hardest on:
- Schools serving the highest concentrations of high-needs students
- Special education paraprofessionals and in-school support staff
- Multilingual learner programs, despite students comprising over one-third of enrollment
- A paraprofessional workforce that is more than 70% Black and Latino
“Enrollment changes don’t erase student needs for those that remain,” Berg said. “For years, many schools have been working to close gaps in services and supports. Reducing staff in the schools and classrooms that remain open doesn’t realign the system — it risks cementing those gaps and continuing to deprive students of the supports they need.”
Proposed budget reflects policy choices, not just cost pressures
The proposed FY27 Boston Public Schools budget — developed by the district and advanced as part of the Mayor’s budget proposal which will be under review by the Boston City Council — increases overall spending while relying on reductions in school-based staffing to absorb rising costs.
Those costs include health insurance, transportation, and special education. At the same time, enrollment has declined, reducing some state aid. But the report emphasizes that these factors do not fully determine how resources are allocated.
Boston enters this budget cycle with significant fiscal capacity, including more than $1.2 billion in reserves and over $550 million in available cash, giving the City flexibility in how it responds to the estimated $48 million school-level gap for necessary services to students.
“Boston has the resources to take a different approach,” BTU Vice President Lea-Antoinette Serena said. “This is ultimately a question of whether the City chooses to meet the needs of students in our schools.”
Growing momentum for action
The report comes as the City Council begins its review of the FY27 budget proposal and amid increasing public pressure. Hundreds of educators, parents, and students recently rallied at City Hall, calling on leaders to safeguard school staffing and invest in student success.
BTU leaders say the report is intended not just as an analysis — but as a roadmap.
“City officials now have a clear set of solutions in front of them,” Serena said. “Now is the time to act.”
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About the Boston Teachers Union
The Boston Teachers Union represents more than 10,000 educators and school professionals across Boston Public Schools. The union advocates for strong public schools, equitable resources, and the success of every student in Boston.