Kingston School Committee Approves $17.4 Million Budget, Seeks Override
Potential Cuts Include Reading Specialists, Increased Class Sizes
KINGSTON - February 3 - The Kingston School Committee approved a $17.4 million budget for fiscal year 2026 on Feb. 3, setting the stage for a potential override request to the town's Board of Selectmen. The approved budget is nearly $1 million more than the amount previously authorized by the Selectmen, leaving school officials seeking additional funding to maintain level services and avoid significant staff cuts.
Committee members voted unanimously to approve the $17,455,569 budget, which includes $16,563,586 in operating expenses and $891,983 in anticipated grants and reimbursements. This figure represents a 7.1% increase over the current fiscal year's budget.
"We are currently seeking an override from the Board of Selectmen," said committee member Jeanne Coleman. "That amount will be to be determined."
The budget gap of approximately $967,000 between the School Committee's approved amount and the Selectmen's previous allocation has raised concerns about potential cuts to staff and services if additional funding is not secured.
Among the most significant proposed cuts are the elimination of all reading specialist positions at both Kingston Elementary School and Kingston Intermediate School. When asked about the impact, KES Principal Kerri Whipple confirmed, "We only have two reading specialists, so that would bring us down to zero."
Class sizes could also see substantial increases under the proposed cuts. At Kingston Elementary School, some kindergarten classes could potentially reach up to 24 students per classroom, while first and second-grade classes could see up to 27 students each.
Kingston Intermediate School faces similar challenges, with potential class sizes reaching 28 to 29 students in grades three through six if cuts are implemented.
"A classroom in the high 20s and low 30s is just... I have experience, granted high school is different than elementary. I had a classroom of 37, 38. I can't imagine what that would do to anybody that age," said Dan Mastrogiacomo, a resident and educator who spoke during the public comment period.
The school committee is exploring various options to mitigate the budget shortfall, including the use of unexpected state funding. The district recently received $338,270 from the state for emergency shelter reimbursement, which could potentially offset some costs.
Committee members debated how to allocate these funds, with some suggesting using the full amount to reduce the override request. However, the committee ultimately decided to use a portion of the funds to add an English Language (EL) teacher position, which was deemed necessary due to the increasing number of EL students in the district.
Eric Crone, chair of the Board of Selectmen, attended the meeting and emphasized the urgency of finalizing budget numbers for a potential override. "The push from the town, from the Board of Selectmen and the Town Administrator to get a number is so that we can, if we're going to have an override... people need to know like ASAP," Crone said.
The School Committee plans to present their budget request to the Board of Selectmen at their Feb. 11 meeting. If an override is approved by the Selectmen, it would then need to pass at both the town meeting and a subsequent ballot vote.
Committee members acknowledged the fluid nature of the budget process, noting that numbers could change based on upcoming discussions about shared costs with other towns in the school district and potential additional state funding.
The next Kingston School Committee meeting is scheduled for March 3, where members expect to further refine the budget based on new information and feedback from town officials.