Our Students, Our Responsibility: Conversations That Matter for Methuen Schools
Written by: Jessica MacLeod
On Saturday, February 28th, a community panel brought together 14 educators from Methuen and Haverhill to discuss critical issues affecting education in our region. The panel covered a range of topics, including local education funding, school safety, community engagement, wages, and humane family and sick leave policies.
The event offered an opportunity to pull back the curtain on the realities of public education, particularly in the context of increasingly complex student needs and ongoing underfunding. It also provided a space for candid dialogue ahead of the upcoming budget cycle, helping the community understand the stakes and challenges facing our school districts.
Attendance was strong, with additional chairs needed to accommodate educators and their children from both communities at the AmVet in Haverhill. Methuen’s elected officials were present in force, and their participation was deeply appreciated by the panelists. The current City Council has consistently expressed concern for our schools, and being present at events like this underscores their commitment to making students a community priority.
We were grateful for the engagement of both local and state officials. Mayor DJ Beauregard attended, along with City Council members Jana Zanni Pesce, John Drew, Ella MacLaren, Yanilda Santos, Ron Marsan, and Ryan Dizaglio. School Committee members Lauri Keegan, Mary Beth Donovan-Grassi, Nicholas Dizaglio, and Alejandro Baez were also present. At the state level, Senator Pavel Payano and State Representative Ryan Hamilton joined the discussion. Many elected officials from Haverhill were in attendance as well, highlighting the regional commitment to public education.
This event highlighted the power of community dialogue and collaboration, showing that addressing challenges in education requires thoughtful discussion, transparency, and partnership across all levels of government and society.
The following was my contribution to the panel. I was proud to lend my voice to the discussion and hope that my words help inspire meaningful changes in local funding that our students and school communities deserve.
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I am a Methuen teacher and the parent of a Methuen graduate. I see the gap every day. While students in neighboring districts return from February break talking about international trips or high-tech internships, our seniors are lucky to get one day in New York City. And this isn’t just about field trips. It’s about the size of the world we tell our children they are allowed to imagine.
Methuen spends $2,700 less per student than the state average. If we were funded like a municipality like Lexington, that gap grows to over $7,000. In a classroom of 20, that is upwards $185,000 in missing resources per room. That isn't just a number; it’s a reality. Our district has lost 120 educators in two years due to budget cuts. At the Timony we lost a lower school wellness teacher, counselor, MLL specialist, and administration. All of our class sizes have increased.
In almost every grade, we have 6 classrooms but only 5 specialists—meaning one class is split up and our specialists are absorbing 20% more students in each class they teach. In gym, that looks like almost 60 students with only two teachers. Our budget is compounding complexity, not solving it.
We are funding at the legal minimum, yet facing a $2 million cut in federal Special Education funding for school year 2026/27. We are currently compliant because educators are carrying unsustainable caseloads. There is no 'No Vacancy' sign for students with complex needs. We are legally and morally obligated to meet them, and we’ve run out of fat to cut.
We are often told, 'Methuen residents won’t vote for an override,’ full stop. Well, I live here. I pay taxes here. If we believe that a budget is a moral document, then we, historically, have made pretty clear statements about how we prioritize our children. Our residential tax rate is 1.17%—lower than the state median. The city council recently voted to increase that rate by 5%, and I’m hoping to see it leveraged in support of our students because we can afford to do better. But, if the city does not have the money to support our schools, then we have to consider all solutions, including an override.
Methuen’s students are already proving they are capable of incredible things. But they need more. This isn't a failure of effort or concern by our teachers or administration—it’s a failure of design. Our educators are doing everything possible, but the system is funded at the bare minimum. The question isn't whether our students are ready for the world; it’s whether we are willing to give them a school system big enough for their potential.
Children’s potential is equal, but opportunities are not. Funding and resources determine what they can achieve—our schools deserve the support to give every student a fair chance.