"We've had to reduce our budget by $438,906 to achieve a zero percent budget," Ms. Baldwin said. "We have reduced positions in teaching ranks across the system. We have changed programming at Swift Middle School in unified arts as well as athletics and we have also taken a look at different expenditures in our substitute account."

The Superintendent noted that, so far, Watertown's school system has reduced teaching staff by nine positions. Three positions are from the high school in business education, physical education and health. Three positions are from Swift Middle School, two sixth grade teaching positions and one from John Trumbull Primary School.

"Those are the nine, many of which occurred over the summer with resignations that we have chosen not to fill," said Ms. Baldwin.

However, not all the reductions are a byproduct of resignations.

"There are four members of the teacher's bargaining unit who have been, in fact, laid off," said Ms. Baldwin. "Some of these people have six years of teaching experience but because of seniority and certifications, they are without a job as we speak."

Ms. Baldwin also provided an optimistic view on the upcoming school year.

"Certainly, this is a challenging time, but we continue to move forward with the work in the school system; we are prepared to open on August 31," said Ms. Baldwin.

The superintendent also took time to address parent's concerns over class roster information, which has not been posted as of yet.

"I received numerous questions about our mailings at the K-5 level; we are not posting class lists, which has been the practice for years."

Ms. Baldwin attributed the lack of a budget as a contributing factor, "because of the fluidity of the reduction process and the numerous changes taking place and the complexities of building school schedules, principals are not able to do that this year."

Ms. Baldwin reported that class lists will be mailed home to parents of students and that "this is not an extra cost to the Board of Education."

Also noted were issues of privacy that may have arisen from posting the full class rosters in a public place.