Boxborough School Committee plans budget amendment and staff additions for upcoming meeting

The Acton-Boxborough School Committee meeting on May 22, 2025, focused on several key topics, including budget updates, student achievements, and future planning for the district.

Superintendent Peter presented a series of commendations, highlighting the success of the Blanchard Braskewind ensemble, which earned a gold medal at the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association festival. He also celebrated high school student Ram Sivaraman, who won first place in the system software category at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio, receiving a $6,000 prize from Microsoft for his innovative project.

In the budget and finance update, Superintendent Peter expressed gratitude to both Acton and Boxborough residents for their support in passing the school budget at the recent town meetings. He noted ongoing discussions regarding additional revenue from the state, as the House and Senate versions of the budget differ and have yet to be reconciled. The timeline for finalizing the budget is expected to extend into July.

The superintendent indicated that the school committee is preparing a budget amendment proposal for the next meeting. This proposal aims to reduce the assessment to the two towns, freeing up funds, and potentially adding back some staff positions. The committee is closely monitoring the situation regarding chapter 70 funding and circuit breaker reimbursements, which remain uncertain.

Overall, the meeting underscored the district's commitment to addressing financial challenges while celebrating student achievements and planning for future staffing needs. The upcoming budget amendment proposal will be a significant focus for the next school committee meeting.