It’s uncertain whether the Claremont School District will open as planned on Thursday, or if a multimillion-dollar deficit will delay the start of the school year.

The school district is still trying to determine the extent of the budget shortfall, but the school board canceled $1.8 million in contracts with 19 new hires in an effort to cut costs and keep the schools open.

James O’Shaughnessy, Claremont School District’s attorney, said “insufficient” records from 2021-2025 have made the school’s financial situation unclear, but an ongoing audit suggests they might not be able to afford starting on time, much less stay open the entire school year.

“While the exact amount of the deficit is unknown, we know that it is significant enough to require the district to take some historic steps t

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