East Bridgewater School Committee Certifies $28.4 Million Budget for FY26
Reduced services budget represents $1.5 million increase over prior year; committee also votes to continue school choice program
EAST BRIDGEWATER - March 18 - The East Bridgewater School Committee has certified a reduced services budget of $28,390,177 for the 2026 fiscal year. The budget, which represents a $1.5 million increase over the prior year, includes projected staff adjustments to meet financial constraints.
During the March 18 meeting, Chair Gordon McKinnon described the budget situation as "not great news" but "the reality that we're dealing with."
"Even this number includes projected adjustment numbers in our staff and all that to meet these kind of numbers," McKinnon says.
The committee plans to continue working with town officials to address the financial challenges. A meeting with the Select Board is scheduled for March 24 to discuss the budget further.
"From my point of view, the town has been involved in this right along, which I feel good about," McKinnon says. "There's been a lot of collaborative discussions and sharing of information and knowledge."
Committee member Dan Picha emphasizes the collaborative approach taken during the budget process.
"I want to thank Dave Walsh from the Finance Committee for all the time that he spent with us trying to get through this process," Picha says. "I think the number we certify tonight will hopefully get reduced and we'll do everything that we can to meet the financial needs of the town."
Committee member Peter Furia echoes these sentiments, noting the challenging budgetary situation.
"There's no doubt about it, this is an incredibly challenging year from a budgetary standpoint," Furia says. "I'm very proud of everybody's work and working together to try to do everything we can, the best we can."
Business Administrator John Shea confirms that efforts to reduce the budget are ongoing.
"We're still working with the town. We're still working with vendors. We're still working with special ed department," Shea says. "So we're still doing our best to try to see what we can to reduce the budget number."
Furia points out that the budget challenges are not due to district actions.
"Our budget challenges this year are not anything of our doing or past doing," Furia says. "Our budget challenges this year have to do with things that are beyond our control and unfunded mandates from the state."
The committee also votes to continue accepting school choice students in grades 7-12 for the 2025-2026 school year. Currently, the district has 36 school choice students, with discussions about potentially capping the number at 40.
Assistant Superintendent Gina Williams shares recommendations from the junior-senior high school principal regarding school choice.
"His only caution would be to consider not adding to the 7th and 8th grade knowing that's where some of the reductions are going to potentially be taking place," Williams says. "If the committee's looking to do a swap with 12 school choice students graduating, then he would recommend three more going into their freshman year, three more going into the sophomore year."
The committee approves a motion to continue accepting students under school choice in grades 7-12 up to 40, with the review process involving the school building principal and the superintendent having the final say.
Williams explains that applications come into the central office, and it has been the practice for the Superintendent to review applications and make decisions. If there are too many applications, a lottery system is used rather than first-come, first-served.
The committee agrees to discuss the detailed process at their April meeting while allowing applications to begin.
School choice brings in approximately $5,000 per student to the district. Shea reports that the school choice fund currently contains $736,000, with recent annual revenues being used to pay for two positions: an IT technician and an instructional coach at the junior-senior high school.
Other significant items discussed at the meeting include:
- The Gordon Mitchell School Project update, which involves roof replacement and windows through the Massachusetts School Building Authority's accelerated repair program
- The Central School Building Project, with a vote on location expected at the next building committee meeting
- The 2025-2026 school calendar draft, which includes a full-day professional development day on Halloween
- An update on the district's strategic plan, which is in its final year
- The adoption of an updated wellness policy
- Approval for the Veterans Service Officer to assist in handing out diplomas to graduates entering the Armed Forces or Military School at the Class of 2025 graduation ceremony
- Acceptance of a donation from East Bridgewater residents Phillip and Debra Casey of gift cards and refreshments for the high school golf program
The committee plans to meet with the selectmen on March 24 to continue budget discussions as they work toward finalizing the numbers before town meeting.