The School Committee Friday morning unanimously approved a $47,620,287 budget for fiscal 2027 (including some disputed benefit funds) that will require an additional $1.5 million in cuts. That is on top of to two earlier rounds of cuts of $2.6 million and $1.7 million.
The committee asked Superintendent John Robidoux and Assistant Superintendent Mike Pfifferling to make the new cuts while simultaneously developing a multi-year, three-tier override proposal that could shape the district’s finances for the next several years.
“I hate the idea of coming to you and saying, ‘Hey, in in two weeks can you envision what you want the schools to look like in three years? And please give us specific dollar amounts of that cost?’ But essentially, that’s sort of what we understand we’re doing,” said School Committee member Henry Gwazda.
On Wednesday, the Select Board voted to move forward with the schools and other town departments for a general tax override request at Town Meeting in May. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer is forming an override working group with town and school leaders. He will present a three-tiered request (restore, restore and build, and invest and improve) by April 8.
Robidoux said he’s comfortable with keeping some of the initial “efficiencies” found in the first round of budget cuts. He will meet with the teachers union about this latest round of cuts, which will likely impact more staff. So far, at least 14 full-time positions have been eliminated.
