DUXBURY — Nov. 4, 2026 — Duxbury school administrators on Wednesday proposed a fiscal 2028 net operating budget of $47,885,914, a 3.04% increase, and the School Committee separately voted 5-0 to recommend a $2,125,000 capital budget. The committee is expected to vote on the operating budget Dec. 2.
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Operating budget. Director of Business and Finance Lisa Freeley said the net figure is what the district will ask the town to appropriate, after subtracting $3.168 million in grants, tuition, fees and reimbursements from the gross cost of running the schools. She said the committee will vote on the budget in cost-center format on Dec. 2.
Freeley said every line and position was justified under zero-based budgeting, and that staffing stays nearly flat, with a net increase of 0.25 full-time equivalent positions. The district proposes more nursing at the Alden School and the high school and small increases in maintenance and technology, offset by two secondary teaching reductions expected to come through attrition. No layoffs were approved.
Salaries make up more than 80% of the gross budget, and special education about 25%, Freeley said. The district has 21 students in out-of-district placements, with tuition averaging over $99,000 per student, and two placements will be restructured for FY28, one with a 29% increase.
Superintendent Danielle Klingaman called the plan a conservative budget and said a number of teacher retirements are expected in FY29. Asked how the district held the increase near 3%, she pointed to lower special education placement and transportation costs and reductions across line items, and later to an expected $62,500 in additional athletic fee revenue and $52,000 more in circuit breaker reimbursement.
Fees and reserve proposals. The budget assumes proposed fee changes, including a $10 increase in Chromebook insurance and a 25-cent increase for optional second meals and adult meals, plus higher daily, building and nurse substitute rates. Students’ first breakfast and lunch remain free under the state program. Laurel Deacon confirmed the budget assumes those fees are adopted. The athletic fee increase in the budget was approved in June.
Freeley also proposed drawing up to $250,000 from the special education stabilization fund this year to stay under the state’s 2% cap on that reserve, for a transportation program evaluation, a special education vehicle and other eligible costs. That proposal is to be presented in more detail Nov. 18.
