SCITUATE — Nov. 2, 2026 — Scituate schools face a roughly $1.5 million fiscal 2028 shortfall that will likely mean personnel cuts, Superintendent Tom Raab told the School Committee on Monday, even after a one-time use of town free cash added $675,984 to the schools’ share. The committee approved Raab’s goals as amended and its own goals for the year.
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Budget outlook. Raab said the town’s financial forecast committee agreed to apply $1,024,218 of free cash toward the Plymouth County retirement assessment, freeing money in the operating budget; under the town’s two-thirds, one-third formula, $675,984 goes to the schools. He stressed that the free cash is one-time revenue.
Combined with earlier projected growth, Raab said, additional school funding stands at $1,072,581, or 2.1% more than this year, about half of last year’s increase. Covering known costs, including salaries under settled contracts with all six unions and rising energy expenses, would take about 6%, or $3 million, he said, leaving a $1.9 million gap. He estimated about $400,000 could be found through expense restraint, leaving about $1.5 million.
But I will be perfectly honest that any personnel cut is going to be felt.
— Superintendent Tom Raab 1:13:51
Raab said 80% of the budget is personnel and that administrators would look first at positions that are not classroom-facing; the projection assumes no retirements, while the district typically sees six to eight a year. No cut list or layoff was presented. Ideas will be shared with the committee in the coming weeks, with no decisions before its Feb. 1 budget vote.
A student representative asked how a statewide ballot question decided the next day might affect the budget; members said the district plans conservatively around state actions.
Superintendent’s goals. Raab said he rewrote action steps for two goals to make them more measurable, adding dates and percentages. Members debated adding evaluation indicators from the state rubric, such as ethical behavior and compliance with laws and policies, so the committee would have them available in evaluating him. The committee then approved the 2026-27 superintendent goals as amended by voice vote.
High school principal search. Raab presented a 31-page profile from student, faculty and caregiver surveys to guide the search team.
