Facing an angry crowd of concerned parents and taxpayers, Claremont officials acknowledged Monday night that the worst reports are true: the school district has dug itself a $5 million hole.

As parents asked pointed questions about whether there will be any school sports this year and what happens if the district is unable to remain open for a full semester, Comptroller Matthew Angell broke the bad news. The district knows it has around $5 million in unpaid, critical bills, a fact school board members claim they were unaware of until recently.

After cutting 19 teachers to save $1.8 million last week, the district cut another 20 positions, ranging from custodians, para-educators, and school secretaries, to save an additional $1 million. The district is also working on a plan to bring back

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