The City of Manchester is deep into discussions about the school funding dilemma, recently announcing that it would not be ‘handing out pink slips.’ The question is, ‘Is that the right move, and does the data support the school board’s decision?

Educational expert Drew Cline, from the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, does a brilliant job outlining why proclaiming that releasing teachers was off the table overlooks one of the primary factors driving up the budget and adversely affecting education outcomes.

What is the teacher-to-student ratio, and why is that important? When teachers are let go, are we keeping the best teachers? What kind of influence does the teachers’union have over the school board?