On March 25, the Lexington Public Schools community was informed of significant staff reductions as part of efforts to address the Fiscal Year 2027 budget gap.

In a message sent to Lexington families, Superintendent Julie Hackett stated that approximately 65 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions will be reduced, while non-renewal letters have been issued to all 160 non-PTS (Professional Teacher Status) staff in the district.

The FTE reductions are projected to affect more than just 65 individual staff members, as a single FTE can represent multiple part-time positions. 

The non-renewal letters, also known as “pink slips,” do not necessarily mean that each recipient will lose their job. According to contractual requirements, every non-PTS staff—usually those within their first three years at LPS—must receive notice that their contract may not be renewed. A majority are expected to retain their position or be reassigned.

A primary cause of the budget gap is the steady decline in student enrollment, which began during the pandemic. Since peak enrollment in FY2019, there are now 735 fewer students in the district. State funding is generally proportional to the number of students, so while funding will not directly decrease, its growth will slow down as enrollment continues to decline.

Other cited causes have been the rising costs of health insurance, transportation, and special education. 

With the passing of the debt exclusion on Dec. 8, 2025, some residents may wonder whether the increased tax revenue can be used to retain staff. However, funds from the debt exclusion are reserved for the construction of the new Lexington High School building and cannot be reallocated.

The impacts of the staffing reductions, while not anticipated to affect class size, have already been felt at LHS. Although no specific cuts have been made public, affected staff were notified in late March, and questions have been raised about the return of newer teachers for the 2026-2027 school year.