Norwell Superintendent Unveils $34M “Level Service” Budget
Warns Further Cuts Would Compromise System
NORWELL - January 15, 2026 - Superintendent Matthew Keegan presented a $34.7 million “executive budget” for Fiscal Year 2027, representing a 4% increase ($1,335,923) over the current year. While the proposal maintains current staffing levels, Keegan cautioned that it does not restore any of the 12.6 teaching positions or various support roles lost following last year’s failed override. With skyrocketing utility costs and a volatile Special Education landscape, the district faces a “fragile” financial reality where any further reductions could fundamentally damage educational stability.
The Full Story
The FY’27 budget process is in its “infancy,” but the initial outlook highlights the lingering impact of the previous year’s fiscal constraints. Superintendent Keegan’s proposal is a “level service” budget, meaning it primarily covers contractual salary increases (4.12%) and fixed operational costs rather than expanding programs. The Superintendent noted that he worked the original $1.49 million request down to $1.33 million by revisiting principal and director requests.
A significant driver of the 4% increase is a 12% jump in utilities, largely due to a “skyrocketing” gas contract signed last October. Facilities maintenance costs are also rising as specialized contractors for boilers and roofs “double or triple” their prices.
The Cost of “Skipping” Cycles
The district is also grappling with the consequences of a “hiccup” in its technology replacement cycle. After cutting $155,901 from the technology budget last year due to the failed override, the district is now one full year behind its rotation of student iPads and teacher laptops. Warren MacCallum, Director of Finance, Operations and Technology, warned that teacher laptops are typically recycled into elementary student carts to meet MCAS testing regulations; without new hardware, the older units may no longer comply with state testing requirements.
Restoration and “What-If” Scenarios
While the executive budget is “vanilla” in its current form—adding only one mandated Special Education aide and removing a central office coordinator position—Committee Chair Kristin McEachern noted that parents are already asking what it would take to restore lost positions.
Superintendent Keegan provided a “back of the envelope” estimate, stating that a full restoration of nine teachers, several building-based aides, two secretaries, and the technology cycle would cost approximately $1.5 million on top of the current request. This would total a $2.8 million increase, nearly identical to the override amount requested and rejected by voters last year.
“Any cuts from this point out really start to compromise the systems that we’ve put in place... I am not looking to put anything back at this point in time that we cut. I’m just trying to make sure we do not lose anything more.” — Superintendent Matthew Keegan
Why It Matters
For Norwell taxpayers, the “level service” label belies a growing gap between available funding and the cost of maintaining a top-tier school district. The district is currently falling down the regional list for per-pupil expenditure, and the “domino effect” of deferred technology and maintenance will likely lead to higher emergency costs in the future. Residents may soon have to decide if they are comfortable with a “new normal” of fewer teachers and larger class sizes, or if they will support a potential second override attempt to restore the district to its 2024 service levels.
Official Minutes & Data
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To approve the Middle School chorus field trip to Providence, Rhode Island, on January 25, 2026.
Vote: Unanimous (approx. 0:00:56)
Key Financial Breakdowns
Overall Budget Increase: 4% ($1,335,923 increase).
Salaries: Up 4.12% across all departments.
Utilities: Up 12%, driven by a significant increase in gas contract rates.
Textbooks: Up 20.9% ($42,000 increase) to support site license renewals for Spanish, French, and History.
Special Education Tuitions: The district currently projects being $1.5 million behind in this area across FY27 and FY28.
Significant Discussions
Athletic Restorations: The budget includes funding to bring back six of the 15 athletic teams cut last year, including potentially freshman or JV volleyball and basketball, based on student interest numbers.
Custodial Privatization: The district has issued an RFP to explore outsourcing custodial services. This move could potentially remove 15 positions from the town’s healthcare and pension rolls to find savings that might avoid an override. A decision is expected in mid-February.
Special Education “Backstop”: There is $400,000 in a town-side stabilization fund that the district can request at a Special Town Meeting if out-of-district tuitions exceed the current budget.
What’s Next
The School Committee will meet with the Select Board on January 21, 2026, for a joint meeting. A formal vote on capital articles is scheduled for January 26, 2026, and a potential budget workshop may be held on January 28, 2026.
Source Video: Norwell School Committee Special Meeting 1/15/2026