LYNN — Music, literacy, and equity took center stage at Thursday evening’s School Committee meeting, as some spoke against the proposed FY27 school budget, which calls for eliminating two librarian positions and an eighth-grade music program.
Students and staff stood before the Committee during the public comment section that lasted more than an hour. While the majority were testifying on positions that would be eliminated as part of the budget Superintendent Molly Cohen presented two weeks ago, necessitated by a $7 million deficit, the most common topics were music and librarians.
“These proposed budget cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet… they are real people,” Lynn English staff member Heather Lang said. “These losses to our staff… that are being proposed will directly impact our students, reducing the resources, dimming their opportunities, (and) weakening the quality of education that we work tirelessly every single day to provide for them.”
Many, like Lang, argued that the role of a librarian is a vital part of students’ literacy learning and also a support system for what Lang called “some of the most vulnerable students in our building and in our community.”
Member Brian Castellanos was in agreement, stating that the Committee “really should preserve this position, and I hope my colleagues join me in support to restore and not get rid of these two librarian positions.”
Erica Tolley, who has been the Lynn Classical librarian for 27 years, also spoke, expressing to the Committee that libraries aren’t just about books, but about the connections that are made between student and staff members.
“I have students every day who come into the library to have their lunch so that they can escape the chaos of the cafeteria because it’s too overwhelming for them to be in there,” Tolley shared.
She explained that staff and students find solace in the library, as do the crucial roles she and the Lynn English librarian, Tiffany Cotroneo, play. Librarians are responsible for the technology, but also provide technology support for the students.
“There are databases that students use on a daily basis… that are only available to the city because you have certified licensed librarians in the building,” Tolley said. “The Massachusetts library system will not give you access to those databases without a certified librarian, so you will lose those resources.”
On top of the librarian advocates, there were also pleas to keep the eighth-grade music program at Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, especially from students.
A junior at Lynn Tech, Nicole Maria, shared that as president of the music club, she believed “getting rid of this program makes music less accessible and music education is already scarce.”
Maria stated that being in the music program has allowed her to perform with many students all over Lynn.
“One of the most important aspects of this music program is building a community across all ages,” Maria explained. “Being able to be a mentor to the younger members of the club but also having people to look up to, truly makes this a close-knit community that all have a mutual respect for one another and for music,” she added.
Students will still have access to music education in grades 6 and 7 and at Lynn Tech in grades 9-12.
Within all the discourse, the City Arts and Sciences Academy (CASA), which opened in September, was mentioned at the beginning and the end of the 3½-hour meeting.
Matt Wilkins, a guidance counselor at Lynn English, expressed frustration that both Lynn English and Frederick Douglas Collegiate Academy are losing a guidance counselor, while CASA, which does not have a counselor this year and next year will have students in grades 6, 7, 9, and 10, is gaining two.
“Someone please explain to me why the CASA school counselors have significantly fewer students to manage,” Wilkins said, “or, more importantly, why are the Lynn English and Frederick Douglass students being shortchanged in terms of equity, attention, care, and support?”
Wilkins also said that next year, CASA will have no seniors in need of post-graduate planning and will review the new graduation requirements.
“With enrollment being lower and a new Pickering (Middle School) on the horizon, why do we need the CASA?” Wilkins asked. “Close it and save money on administration, building maintenance, and building utility.”
Since the March 12 meeting, Committee members submitted 273 questions on the budget to Cohen and her leadership team, which provided written answers. They will have the opportunity to submit follow-up questions in advance of the April 9 meeting, at which the committee will vote on the proposed budget.
In an interview following the meeting, Cohen explained that the guiding principle behind the budget proposal is maintaining “a balanced student-centered budget that maintains high-quality instruction.”
While acknowledging the emotional testimony shared during the meeting, Cohen emphasized that the district is prioritizing direct instructional support, intervention services, and student-facing positions, especially for schools identified as needing improvement. She noted that, unlike intervention programs, library spaces “don’t have direct intervention groups or those types of programming,” which influenced the decision-making process.
At the same time, Cohen made clear the outpouring of advocacy had not gone unnoticed.
She said she was “really impressed with the level of compassion, investment, (and) engagement of our teachers and administrators and particularly the students who spoke,” adding that “their passion is going to contribute to the ongoing discussion of the budget because their voices do matter and we take them seriously.”
Rather than eliminating library access entirely, Cohen said the district is exploring alternative ways to maintain those spaces.
“We are going to have some ongoing conversations with school leadership about different ways that we can provide access to the library in a way that works within the budget,” she said, suggesting possibilities such as assigning administrative duties or offering stipends to staff to keep libraries open before or after school.
Looking ahead, “We will continue to evaluate the feedback that we got,” Cohen said, noting that further discussions will take place before the scheduled April 9 vote.
Addressing concerns from staff about job security, Cohen shared efforts to minimize direct job loss by first cutting positions tied to retirements or anticipated departures. She added that many educators in the district hold multiple certifications, giving them flexibility to transition to other roles if needed.
“I’m really proud and very invigorated by the fact that many of our teachers have more than one certification,” Cohen said. “I am such a people person, and I care deeply about this community… and there was a lot of thought put in. With this budget, people will still have employment options.”
At the same time, she pointed to a broader vision for the district: strengthening institutions and improving outcomes. She stated that she aspires “for us to be one of the higher performing gateway cities in the Commonwealth,” reinforcing her focus on long-term academic progress even amid difficult financial decisions.
