East Bridgewater Schools Propose Level-Funded Budget for FY27
Absorbs $457K in Rising Costs
EAST BRIDGEWATER - March 17, 2026 - The East Bridgewater School Committee presented a “level-funded” budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027, seeking to maintain current spending of $27.77 million despite facing nearly half a million dollars in unavoidable cost increases. By choosing not to replace several retiring teachers and shifting operational expenses, district leaders aim to “hold the line” and meet town financial requests without resorting to direct staff layoffs.
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The Full Story
During a public hearing on March 17, Superintendent Dr. Gina Williams and Director of Business Administration John Shea detailed a complex financial balancing act for the upcoming school year. To achieve a budget that matches the current $27,769,488 appropriation, the district must offset $457,256 in “level-service” increases—the costs required simply to maintain the status quo. [14:10]
“We were definitely looking at a strategic way to work collaboratively with the town knowing that there are fiscal restraints, but also avoiding any direct layoffs of staff.” [15:00] — Dr. Gina Williams, Superintendent
The primary drivers of these costs are common across the South Shore: health insurance is projected to rise between 8% and 12%, and the town’s pension obligation to the Plymouth County Retirement Fund is jumping by $324,000, a 7% increase. [07:24] Most significantly, out-of-district special education tuitions have surged by over $1 million since 2024. [07:46]
To bridge this gap without cutting existing programs, the district is banking on a strategy of “strategic attrition.” This includes not replacing four retiring teachers—one at Central School and three at the Mitchell School (including one special education teacher). [16:42] Consequently, class sizes in affected grades are expected to rise from the current 18–20 students to approximately 20–22 students. [17:10]
Other savings will come from moving the funding of four lunchroom monitors to the food service revolving account and continuing a contracted model for a school psychologist position that the district has been unable to fill with a permanent candidate. [15:45]
Despite these constraints, John Shea highlighted that East Bridgewater continues to operate efficiently compared to its neighbors. The district’s per-pupil expenditure of $17,593 sits higher than Abington and West Bridgewater but remains significantly lower than the state average and towns like Pembroke and Norton. [10:32] “In fiscal year 24, we were the 48th lowest per-pupil expenditure in the state,” Shea noted, pointing out that while this is an improvement from being 2nd lowest a few years ago, the district remains in the bottom tier of state funding. [10:54]
Looking ahead, the district is also prioritizing several capital projects, most notably a critical firewall replacement for the school’s network, as the current system reaches its “end of life” in August. [18:41] Other planned improvements include an ADA-accessible bathroom for the Mitchell School nurse’s office and the installation of a French drain to address persistent leaking on the fourth-grade side of the Mitchell building. [20:00]
Why It Matters
For East Bridgewater residents, the proposal represents a significant effort to stabilize the tax burden by requesting $0 in additional operating funds for the schools next year. However, this “level-funding” is not without impact; parents should prepare for slightly larger class sizes in elementary and middle grades. The district is also signaling a “plateau” in special education costs, hoping that as students age out of expensive out-of-district programs by 2028, the town will see a more sustainable financial path forward. [13:33]
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To wave the first reading of several policy updates (Sections J and K) and move to a final vote. [28:20]
Vote: Unanimous ([28:30])
Motion: To approve edits to school policies and the addition of policy LBC (Relations with Nonpublic Schools). [29:08]
Vote: Unanimous ([29:35])
Motion: To reappoint Dr. Gina Williams as the district representative to the READS Collaborative Board of Directors for 2026-2027. [29:41]
Vote: Unanimous ([30:00])
Public Comment
No residents registered for or offered public comment during the budget hearing phase of the meeting. [22:20]
What’s Next
The School Committee will continue to discuss the budget until the annual Town Meeting. The East Bridgewater High School drama department will perform Descendants this Thursday and Friday nights, and the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast will take place this Sunday at the Mitchell School from 7:00 a.m. to noon. [30:14]
Source Video: EBCAM - East Bridgewater Community Access Media