~ Op-Ed ~ A Seat at the Table: Why Community Voices Must Shape Revere’s School Budget

Revere Teachers Association issues the following statement regarding the 2025 budget cuts proposed by the Superintendent of Revere Public Schools.

The allocation of resources within our public school system is not merely an exercise in accounting. It is a profound statement about our values, our priorities, and our commitment to the children of Revere, as the budget dictates the environment in which our students learn and grow. Yet too often, these critical decisions are made behind closed doors, with limited input from the very people most affected: teachers, caregivers, and students. That needs to change. We must ensure that community voices are not just heard but actively integrated into the process of shaping the RPS budget.

Revere educators are on the front lines every day. Their firsthand knowledge of students’ needs and how budget decisions impact learning makes their input indispensable. To exclude them from budget discussions is to ignore a wealth of experience that could help guide smarter investments.

Caregivers and students bring essential perspectives to budget conversations. As their children’s first teachers and most consistent advocates, caregivers know what’s working and what’s not. They see the impact of underfunding firsthand, whether through larger class sizes or cuts to support services. Students, too, deserve a seat at the table. Budget decisions directly shape their education and future and involving them fosters a sense of agency and civic participation.

Of course, achieving this takes work. It means creating opportunities for meaningful dialogue, sharing information, and ensuring that all voices are heard. It means school leaders must go beyond compliance and actively seek out and listen to input.

Unfortunately, the current approach in Revere has moved in the opposite direction. Dianne Kelly, Superintendent of Schools, is making unilateral decisions—dissolving positions, transferring educators, and altering programming—without any meaningful engagement from those impacted.

Notably, no cuts have been proposed to administrative positions—only positions held by educators, including those who support instruction and student learning, have been targeted.

While we do not believe the Superintendent’s actions violate the contract, we believe they reflect a missed opportunity for collaboration and transparency. Even more troubling, at the most recent Ways and Means Committee meeting, educators’ jobs and their job descriptions were misrepresented by Superintendent Kelly, failing to reflect the full scope of what these roles do for students every day.

In many nearby districts, conversations about budget and staffing began in January and February. Families and educators had time to prepare and respond. In Revere, budget changes and staffing shifts were announced suddenly and without transparency. The City Council was so concerned that they issued a formal motion requesting the presence of the Mayor, the School CFO, the Superintendent, and members of the Revere Teachers Association to discuss the proposed budget cuts, their potential impact on students and staff, and how to protect jobs while meeting students’ educational needs. Educators showed up. The Superintendent did not.

Budget decisions are ultimately about people. They are about our children’s education and the future of our city. If we want to make smart, sustainable decisions, we must ensure those who live and work in our schools are part of the process. We urge the School Committee to reconsider the cuts that most directly impact students’ learning conditions and access to vital supports.

  The Revere Teachers Association is a professional organization of teachers, adjustment counselors, guidance counselors, librarians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, and speech therapists in the Revere Public School district of Revere, Massachusetts. It is composed of over 750 members working in the district’s 11 schools.