Southbridge Schools Receiver Warns of Possible Staff Cuts, Spending Freeze

School Committee · Meeting of February 10, 2026

Southbridge's school receiver warned the School Committee that rising costs could force mid-year staff cuts. Receiver Bill Metzger told the committee Tuesday that the district's special education cushion stands at roughly $138,000, with all existing placement funds already encumbered and a new out-of-district student enrolled the same day — a placement that can exceed $100,000. Metzger said he has placed a pause on discretionary spending through early March and projected the required local contribution will rise from about $10.1 million in fiscal year 2026 to $10.6 million in fiscal year 2027, a $500,000 variance.

The district's net school spending target for FY27 is $47 million. "In the worst case scenario, if we had to do a reduction in force in this current school year, it would not be teachers or EAs — it would be from non-bargaining units and administrative staff," Metzger said. The committee also heard a joint presentation from middle and high school principals on Tier 1 social-emotional learning programs, including Clark University's MAX mentoring initiative for ninth and tenth graders and a new academic self-reflection program now completing its first semester.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of February 10, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.