More than 120 school jobs on the line following Enfield budget vote

ENFIELD, CT (WFSB) – A decision was made Monday night on a new budget in Enfield.

That could translate into cuts for the school district.

It was a 7-4 vote. Town Council voted for a 2 percent budget increase, which meant that schools get $1.5 million.

However, the Board of Education had requested a $6.5 million increase, which worked out to 8.68 percent.

Now, 121 jobs are on the line.

Parents, students, and staff rallied on Monday as a last-ditch effort to try and get the town to increase the budget.

Teachers said that the cuts would create larger class sizes, cut programs, and impact student’s overall education.

However, Town Council members said they ran out of COVID relief money and they were short of funds from the state.

“I would like to give the Board of Education more money but throwing money at a problem doesn’t fix it. We all know it,” said Enfield Mayor Ken Nelson Jr.

The district had over 72 special education students come to Enfield last year. The Board of Education didn’t budget for that, which cost it.

The last time Enfield dealt with mass layoffs was in 2010 when 27 employees were cut.

“It’s bad for Enfield it’s horrible for kids I’m sad for the future of Enfield. This is a generational decision that they made tonight and we’ll just have to deal with the repercussions best we can but it’s unfathomable what they just did,” said Bill Delaney, a teacher at JFK Middle School and the vice president of the Enfield Teachers Association.

The layoffs would take place on the last day of school, June 12. Those who lost their jobs would be able to apply for unemployment on June 13.

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