Duxbury Schools Face Tough Budget Decisions Amid Rising Costs

District considers 8.51% increase or cuts, including kindergarten tuition

DUXBURY, MA - November 6 - Duxbury Public Schools officials presented a challenging budget outlook for the upcoming fiscal year at a recent school committee meeting, proposing either an 8.51% budget increase or significant cuts to address rising costs.

The district's "real needs" budget for fiscal year 2026 totals $46.93 million, reflecting an 8.51% increase from the current year. This increase is driven by essential investments, including a market adjustment for Unit A employees, absorbing costs of universal full-day kindergarten, and addressing facilities maintenance needs.

"We want to be very clear that our Real Needs Budget is conservative, contains reductions and efficiencies, and is realistic knowing the fiscal landscape of our community," said Superintendent Danielle Klingaman.

However, the district also presented a "reduction budget" scenario with a 2.5% increase, as requested by the Select Board. This would require reinstating kindergarten tuition at $3,000 per student and cutting 18.6 full-time equivalent positions across the district.

"The reductions being proposed in order to meet the level funded plus two and a half request will have a devastating impact on the school district and a direct negative impact on students and support for our staff," Klingaman warned.

Key drivers of the budget increase include rising special education costs, with out-of-district tuition and transportation expenses projected to increase significantly. The district budgeted $369,000 for out-of-district transportation in fiscal year 2024 but expects to spend around $700,000.

"The transportation providers for special education or for special services, they do not have to follow the state inflationary rates. They charge what they charge, and the need is there," explained Lisa Freeley, the district's Finance Director.

School committee members expressed concerns about the potential impacts of budget cuts, particularly on class sizes and instructional materials.

"I think our kids spend a whole lot of time on the screens," said a committee member. "It's a little disheartening to see that that's a big area for cuts are instructional materials and basically papers and pens and crayons."

The district has benefited from appropriate funding levels in recent years, with budget increases of 4.02%, 4.05%, and 3.8% in the past three fiscal years. This has allowed for investments in student support services and infrastructure improvements.

"We have been building an infrastructure for student supports for years and understand that our students require small group support and opportunities for intervention and hands-on opportunities at all grade levels," Klingaman said.

However, the expiration of COVID-era funding and ongoing inflationary pressures have created new challenges for the district's budget.

Committee members requested additional information to help inform their decision-making process, including a detailed organizational chart of district staffing and clarification on the special education reserve fund balance.

"I think it's gonna be critically important to not only just see and educate the community on who is in our buildings and why they matter, but more the latter, which is why they matter," said committee chair Laurel Deacon.

The school committee will continue budget discussions in the coming weeks, with meetings scheduled with the Fiscal Advisory Committee and Finance Committee. A final budget hearing is tentatively set for Dec. 4, though this date may be adjusted to allow for additional meetings with town officials.

As the budget process unfolds, district officials emphasized the need for community engagement and support.

"We remain cautiously optimistic about our future, knowing that if our school community unifies to advocate for our needs in collaboration with our town boards, we will have the highest chance to be successful and make it through this challenging budget year," Klingaman concluded.