Open letter to BET Chair Harry Fisher and the Members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation from Karen Hirsh, Chair, Greenwich Board of Education and Jennifer Behette, Vice-Chair
We, the undersigned members of the Greenwich Board of Education, write to respectfully but urgently request that you reopen discussions on the Fiscal Year 2025–26 Operating Budget for Greenwich Public Schools and reconsider your recent $4,048,621 reduction to our proposed budget. This request is also strongly supported by our community and constituents, as underscored by the recent Sense of the Meeting Resolution (SOMR) adopted by the Representative Town Meeting, which states:
“The RTM respectfully requests that the BET re-open the Operating Budget vote for Fiscal Year 2025–26, to better meet the financial needs of Greenwich Public Schools.”
Now more than ever, students in Greenwich need increased support – academically, emotionally, and developmentally. Our schools are not immune to the rising challenges facing students and educators across the country: increased mental health needs, greater demand for individualized instruction, and the growing complexity of educational services. As a Board, we must emphasize that the magnitude of this reduction disregards the intrinsic and non-negotiable costs necessary to maintain the current standard of educational quality in our district. The impact of such a cut will be significant, lasting, and detrimental – not only to our students and educators but to the broader Greenwich community that values high-quality public education and expects educational excellence.
The Board’s proposed budget was developed over many months, through a collaborative bi-partisan and meticulous process, grounded in real-world obligations. It supports the efficient operation of our schools and sustains a high-quality academic experience for all students. The Board then spent several weeks rigorously reviewing the proposal, exploring efficiencies and reductions where possible, and approved the budget, with a $500,000 reduction, by a 7–1 vote, confident that it was lean, responsible, and mission-aligned.
Throughout this process, Dr. Jones and her team have been transparent and responsive, providing detailed data and addressing all inquiries from the BET.
While the proposed budget reflects a modest increase over last year, it is not a “level services” budget, nor is it a wish list – it is a carefully constructed, essential plan to preserve existing programming and meet contractual obligations – many of which are legally binding and non-negotiable. In fact, even this budget does not fully meet all financial responsibilities under current contracts. It is a budget that is not aspirational, but essential.
We are particularly concerned about the flawed assumptions used in this year’s BET budget guidelines—most notably, the blanket application of a 3% salary increase across all Town departments, which did not reflect the actual contractual salary increases for our teachers. This led to a miscalculation of approximately $1.7 million. Past guidelines accounted for these realities; this year’s oversimplification creates a misleading picture, which undermines responsible future budgeting and a troubling shift away from realistic, data-informed budgeting.
The impact of these cuts is not abstract. This is not just about dollars—it’s about children.
Reductions at this scale threaten the educational opportunities we can offer our students and jeopardize the long-standing reputation of Greenwich Public Schools. We recognize the importance of fiscal responsibility and understand the town’s budgetary constraints. We are prepared to consider reasonable, strategic reductions where feasible. However, a $4.1–$4.5 million cut goes far beyond what can be absorbed without doing serious harm to our educational program.
We urge the Board of Estimate and Taxation to heed the RTM’s call and reopen the operating budget vote. Let us return to the table to find a path forward that supports our students and the Town’s fiscal realities and preserves the excellence of our public schools.
Sincerely,
Karen Hirsh
Chair, Greenwich Board of Education
Jennifer Behette
Vice-Chair, Greenwich Board of Education