Dozens protest potential layoffs at Everett schools

EVERETT, Mass. — Dozens of students, parents and teachers lined the sidewalks outside Everett City Hall Monday night to protest potential layoffs.

The School Department has a $7 million budget gap, which is putting more than 100 jobs in jeopardy.

Out of the 110 school employees, 58 teachers were in danger of getting a pink slip.

The City Council voted to put $5 million of free money into the schools and hope the money will help stabilize the School Department for the rest of the year.

But before the decision was announced, dozens of students parents and teachers packed a meeting as they pleaded with the city to save those jobs and extracurricular activities.

Everett’s superintendent said the district anticipated more money from both the state and city this year.

On the state level, he blames a funding formula that doesn’t provide money for economically disadvantaged students unless they apply for food assistance programs like SNAP.

Mayor Carlo Demaria is now calling for a new task force on school finance and an outside audit to determine how the school department got into this fiscal mess.

The city is also banking on money from the casino when it opens next year.

Cox Media Group