Waterford, CT
Fiscal Year 2027
Protect Waterford's Classroom Sizes
Elementary enrollment is growing by 14 students. Budget cuts are forcing class sizes up 35% or more in certain situations. The BOE has $62.5 million. Two teachers cost $144K. Your signature tells every decision-maker in Waterford to protect our classrooms.
The BOE Voted to Keep Our Teachers. The Budget Was Cut Anyway.
The Board of Education voted 8 to 1, with bipartisan support, to restore the teaching positions our schools need. The Board of Finance then cut $230,000. Now the BOE must decide how to spend their $62.5 million budget. We need Waterford residents to make clear: keep our teachers.
By the Numbers
Two teaching positions cost ~$144K. That is 0.23% of the $62.5 million budget. The money is findable.
What Happened and Why It Matters
The BOE voted to keep 2 of 3 teachers the Superintendent proposed cutting. The Board of Finance then cut $230,000 from the BOE budget. The BOE now decides where that cut falls within their $62.5 million budget. Your signature tells them: not the classroom.
We Already Tried This. It Failed.
Great Neck Elementary reduced sections for this same group of students two years ago. Behavioral issues increased. A field trip was canceled. The district reversed it after one year. This year, with smaller classes, these students are thriving. The proposed cuts would repeat the same failed experiment on the same children.
3,000+ New Employees Are Coming to Waterford
Electric Boat is bringing 3,000 to 5,000 workers to the Crystal Mall facility by mid-2027. Many will be young families choosing where to live based on school quality. This is the wrong time to cut teachers and increase class sizes.
Same Students. Fewer Teachers. Larger Classes.
At Great Neck Elementary, 63 fourth graders currently learn in four sections of approximately 16 students each. Next year, their projected class size grows to 64, yet they lose a section. Under the current budget, those students would be placed in three sections of 21 to 22. More students, one fewer teacher, and a 35% increase in class size.
$144k in a $62.5 Million Budget
Two teaching positions cost less than a quarter of one percent of the school budget. The BOE has the flexibility to move funds between budget lines. Parents are asking one thing: treat classroom teachers as the last cut, not the first.
How We Got Here
1. The Superintendent Cut 3 Teachers
The Superintendent's original FY27 budget eliminated three elementary teaching positions across the district.
2. The BOE Restored 2
The Board of Education voted 8-0-1 to restore two of the three positions.
3. The BOF Cut $230k
The Board of Finance reduced the FY27 BOE budget by $230k.
4. The RTM Votes May 4
The RTM votes on the adjusted budget May 4. They cannot restore the money. They can only cut more. Your signature tells them to make no additional cuts.
5. The BOE Decides
The BOE chooses how to spend their $62.5 million. Your signature tells them to find savings elsewhere and keep classroom teachers.
The BOE has over $62.5 million.
Two teachers cost $144K.
The BOE decides how to spend their budget. Not the RTM. Not the BOF. The BOE. Your signature tells them that Waterford residents expect classroom teachers to be the last cut, not the first. The money is findable. They have found it before.
Your Signature Goes to the BOE, RTM, and BOF
This petition will be delivered to the Board of Education, RTM members, and Board of Finance. Every name makes clear that Waterford taxpayers expect the BOE to prioritize classroom teachers within their $62.5 million budget.
FAQs
What Waterford Residents Are Asking
Did the Board of Education choose to cut teachers?
No. The Superintendent proposed cutting three positions. The BOE voted 8 to 1 to restore two of them. The Board of Finance then cut $230,000, forcing the BOE to make additional reductions.
How much does it cost to keep two teachers?
Approximately $144k in salary within a $62.5 million school budget. That is less than a quarter of one percent.
Why should I care if I don't have kids in school?
School quality directly affects property values. Waterford's schools protect a Grand List valued at $4.5 billion. Every homeowner has a financial stake in strong schools.
What role does the RTM play?
The RTM votes to approve or reduce the BOF-approved budget. They cannot increase it. This petition asks RTM members to make no further cuts to the BOE budget. It also sends a clear message to the BOE that residents expect teachers to be protected within the approved $62.5 million.
Which schools are affected?
All three elementary schools are directly impacted by section reductions. Clark Lane and Waterford High School are indirectly affected because elementary quality is the foundation for everything that follows. Regardless of what the RTM decides, the BOE chooses how to spend their $62.5 million budget. This petition tells them where residents want that money to go.
Has this been tried before?
Yes. Great Neck reduced sections for a similar group two years ago. Behavioral issues increased, a field trip was canceled, and the district reversed it after one year.
If the RTM votes to approve the BOF's adjusted budget, what happens next?
The BOE decides where their $62.5 million budget is spent. They have the flexibility to move funds between budget lines. This petition tells the BOE that Waterford taxpayers expect them to find savings elsewhere and reinstate classroom teaching positions before the 2026-2027 school year begins.
What happens to my signature?
This petition will be delivered to the BOE, shared with RTM members, the BOF members, the BOS and referenced in public comment at upcoming meetings. Every signature sends a clear message that Waterford taxpayers prioritize smaller class sizes and expect the BOE to find a way to keep these teachers.
Can more than one person in a household sign the petition?
Yes. Every signature counts individually. If two adults in a household both want to show support, both should sign.
Do I have to be a Waterford resident or taxpayer to sign the petition?
Yes. This petition is for Waterford residents and taxpayers only. All three elementary schools, Great Neck, Oswegatchie, and Quaker Hill, are Waterford public schools affected by these budget decisions.
SaveTheTeachers.com
A petition by Waterford parents urging the BOE to protect elementary class sizes within their $62.5 million budget. A clear message to every decision-maker: Waterford residents do not want to lose teachers in FY27.
Petition initiated & website created by
Jimmy and Jennifer Nicholas:
Waterford, CT residents, business owners, parents of a student directly affected by class sizes, and taxpayers of Waterford, CT.
All data sourced from public budget documents, BOE minutes, and BOF records.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented on this page. All data is sourced from publicly available Waterford Board of Education documents, Board of Finance records, projected enrollment reports, and official meeting minutes. If any information requires correction, please contact [email protected] and we will update promptly. This petition represents the views of the undersigned Waterford residents and is not affiliated with any political party, board, or commission.
*FY26 Elementary School Total Students: 1,004
FY27 Projected Elementary School Total Students: 1,018
Per BOE's Own Enrollment Projection Spreadsheet Dated 10/1/25)
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