The School Committee on Thursday approved the school funding levels tied to each proposed override tier and endorsed a memorandum of understanding aimed at limiting future tax increases, as administrators detailed more than $3 million in cuts made to the fiscal year 2027 school budget.
The votes come following a Select Board meeting where town officials outlined a tiered override structure ranging from $9 million to $15 million across town departments and schools.
Line-item budget targeting additional $1.5M reduction approved
Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Mike Pfifflering walked the committee through a detailed, line-by-line breakdown of how the district absorbed the additional $1.5 million in cuts requested by the town.
The reductions are part of about $3.1 million in total cuts that lowered the FY27 school budget to $47.6 million from an initial $50.7 million level-services request.
Across schools, adjustments include reductions in teaching and support staff, changes to clerical roles, eliminating certain stipends and part-time positions, and removing vacancies, totaling 22 positions districtwide. In some cases, positions are being shifted to grant funding or reallocated across schools to preserve services.
“When we talk about 22 positions, 11 of them are vacant … so it may not be a total reduction in force,” Pfifflering said.
Superintendent John Robidoux emphasized that many of the staffing changes remain in flux as administrators work to minimize layoffs through reassignment and attrition.
“It’s not as simple as just cutting these positions,” he said, noting that staffing changes depend on licensing, grade levels and contractual requirements.
The reductions also include holding several spending categories flat, such as classroom supplies, along with smaller savings in areas such as equipment, professional development and contract services.
Robidoux said principals and district leaders had been involved throughout the budget process and helped identify where reductions would have the least impact.
“We’ve had them give us feedback as to where those reductions would be least impactful in their buildings,” he said.
He added that the district has also been in regular communication with union leadership as the reductions have taken shape.
“I’ve been meeting with the union presidents every other week,” Robidoux said. “I don’t think most of this is a surprise to them.”
While some details may continue to shift as discussions continue with principals and staff, he said school leaders are driving core decisions.
“The principals have been very involved, and they are the ones driving a lot of the discussions at the school-based level,” Robidoux said. “I’m very comfortable with how this process has unfolded.”
Despite the scale of the cuts, officials said the goal has been to preserve core instructional services while responding to rising fixed costs and the town’s broader budget constraints.
Override tiers detail school-side funding
Following the budget vote, the committee approved three school-specific override tiers, which would be combined with the town’s broader override proposal and ultimately presented to voters.
The tiers total $6.2 million, $7.2 million and $8.5 million over three years, with each level building on the previous one. These amounts had already been incorporated in the $9 million, $12 million and $15 million override tiers announced at the Select Board meeting last night.
All three tiers are designed to take effect beginning in fiscal year 2028, with no additional school-side funding proposed for FY27.
Tier 1: $6.2 million over three years
The first tier focuses on maintaining existing obligations and preventing further cuts:
● fund contractual salary increases for all staff
● restore special education out-of-district tuition to required levels
● shift positions currently funded through revolving accounts back into the general fund
Tier 2: $7.2 million over three years
The second tier builds on Tier 1 and adds:
● a multi-year technology lease to fund student devices and software
● elimination of the full-day kindergarten fee
Tier 3: $8.5 million over three years
The third tier includes Tiers 1 and 2 and adds longer-term investments:
● restoration of curriculum and professional development funding
● creation of an in-district special education program for students ages 18 to 22
● establishment of a dedicated capital fund for school buildings
Throughout the discussion, administrators stressed that the override is intended to stabilize the district’s finances and maintain existing services rather than expand programming.
The school funding levels were developed through a working group that included the Finance
Committee, Select Board and town administration, and were brought forward by district officials
as part of that process.
The committee approved the override tiers in a 4-0 vote.
MOU aims to reassure voters
The committee also voted 4-0 to approve a memorandum of understanding that would commit the town to not pursuing another general override until fiscal year 2030 if voters approve one this spring.
The agreement also formalizes the 62-38 revenue split between schools and the town, developed this year with the Select Board and Finance Committee, and applies that framework in future years.
Vice Chair Kate Schmeckpeper described the MOU as a way to provide clarity and assurances about long-term financial planning for residents as the town asks for a significant tax increase.
“I think it’s a document that gives the community the accountability they’re looking for,” member Melissa Clucas said during the discussion.
The MOU is expected to be included as part of the broader override proposal presented to voters ahead of Town Meeting and the June ballot.
