Brockton Schools Finance Panel Approves 22 Layoff Notices, Backs $255.5 Million Budget

School Committee · Meeting of May 19, 2026

Brockton's school finance panel approved layoff notices for 22 employees and recommended a $255.5 million FY27 budget. The Finance Subcommittee voted 3-1 to issue reduction-in-force notices to 20 BESPA paraprofessionals, with member Maria Centeio recused, and 4-1 to RIF two IBAATE members, with member Martina Oliver casting the lone no vote each time. Superintendent Tahiliani had presented three budget scenarios ranging from $251,610,771, reflecting the city's allocation, to $258,282,771, which would have preserved all union positions; the panel ultimately backed Option 2 at $255,525,806, which eliminates vacancies rather than filled positions, on a 4-1 vote after a tied attempt failed.

Members spent much of the meeting denouncing the city's failure to provide a Schedule 19 memorandum of understanding, detailing roughly $62 million in city chargebacks, with Azak declaring the omission "a disservice to our students" and Tahiliani confirming the district has never received such a document. City budget hearings are scheduled for June 8 through 10.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of May 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.