Marshfield Schools Face 5.37% Budget Increase Amid Rising Costs
District Analyzes MCAS Data, Implements Action Plans to Address Performance Challenges
MARSHFIELD - January 7 - The Marshfield School District is proposing a 5.37% budget increase for fiscal year 2026, driven largely by rising operational costs. The proposed budget of $60,798,942 aims to maintain current services while addressing financial challenges.
Tom Miller, the Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance, presented the budget outlook to the school committee on Jan. 7. He highlighted significant increases in expenses for utilities, transportation, and curriculum materials.
"The real issue and what's hit us fiscal 24, 25, and it just keeps rolling forward to 26 is our operational increases," Miller said.
Utility costs alone are projected to rise by over $200,000. Transportation-related expenses, including athletics and special education transportation, are also increasing substantially.
Miller noted that curriculum and technology costs have shifted to annual subscription models, creating ongoing expenses where one-time purchases were once the norm.
"Curriculum companies, they got smart. Instructional software companies, they got smart. Technology companies, they got smart. Annual costs, annual costs, annual costs," Miller explained.
The district is also grappling with a significant increase in vocational school tuition. While non-South Shore vocational enrollment has decreased, South Shore Vocational Technical High School enrollment jumped from three students to 38 this year.
This enrollment spike could result in an $800,000 expense for the town that isn’t going to the district. Miller emphasized the need for a partnership with the town to address this cost.
"If it's $800,000, it's $400,000 in [Chapter 70] revenue that won't come to education," Miller said.
Despite these challenges, Marshfield's proposed budget increase is lower than many neighboring districts. Miller described the budget as "very, very conservative, but it's realistic."
The district plans to revive some positions cut in the previous year, including a Director of Special Education and a permanent substitute nurse. It also aims to maintain after-school support programs previously funded by federal COVID relief money.
Marshfield continues to rank low in per-pupil spending compared to similar-sized Massachusetts districts. In fiscal year 2023, Marshfield ranked 132nd out of 156 districts with over 1,000 students, spending $18,436 per pupil.
"We've historically done a lot more with a lot less. But everything I detailed is a breaking point, and we're reaching that breaking point," Miller warned.
Alongside budget discussions, the committee received an update on the district's analysis of MCAS results and subsequent action plans.
Ellen Martin, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, presented findings from data analysis sessions conducted with teachers and administrators across all grade levels.
The analysis revealed both strengths and areas for improvement. Elementary schools saw positive results from a new literacy program, while middle and high schools identified challenges in specific areas like poetry and figurative language.
"We're finding we're, like, we're not doing a – we could do a better job in areas like poetry and areas like looking at people," Superintendent Patrick Sullivan noted.
In response, schools are implementing targeted action plans. These include adjusting curriculum content, providing additional teacher support, and aligning instruction across grade levels.
The high school English department, for example, is weaving more poetry throughout its curriculum and incorporating more diverse texts into existing units.
Science instruction is also receiving attention, particularly at the elementary level where time constraints often impact science teaching.
"We really want to make sure we're sticking to that," Martin said, referring to dedicated science instruction time.
The school committee will vote on the proposed budget at its next meeting on Jan. 21. A public hearing on the budget will be held at that time.