Brookline — The School Committee voted Sept. 18 to forward the FY‑27 through FY‑31 capital improvements program (CIP) request to the town, and members spent the remainder of the meeting discussing FY‑27 budget guidelines and planning assumptions, including scenarios for a possible override.

CIP vote and priorities: The committee voted to accept the district’s multiyear CIP submission after a finance subcommittee review. The CIP submission includes deferred maintenance for school buildings, feasibility work on the Lawrence cafeteria, accessibility and gender‑inclusive bathroom projects, and a multi‑year program to add or upgrade climate control systems (air conditioning) across buildings. Committee members asked for clarification on urgency ratings and the process used to develop priorities; staff said priorities and urgency ratings were developed in conversations between principals and operations staff and that some projects are front‑loaded for earlier years.

Budget guideline discussion: Committee members then focused on the FY‑27 operating budget guidance. The committee discussed framing the guidelines to align with the district strategic plan and the superintendent’s priorities presented that evening, with several members recommending a concise set of top priorities that the district should fund in FY‑27 while preserving flexibility for administration to develop details.

Override planning and timeline: Committee members discussed the need to prepare multiple budget scenarios (level service/level service plus, restoration, new investments, and a no‑override outcome). Staff and the committee noted the practical calendar constraints: the town and district need forecasts and firm budgets in late fall/early winter to meet the town’s override timetable if a ballot question will be required in spring. Committee members also discussed the role of expenditure and revenue review subcommittees and asked for coordination to ensure the committee’s expectations are reflected in the materials sent to advisory groups.

Questions raised: Members asked about specific items in the CIP (e.g., capacity and cafeteria space at Lawrence; BEP lease renewals; whether climate control requests are additive to ongoing HVAC CIP lines). Staff agreed to clarify which items are already funded, which are new requests and how the CIP interacts with town capital lines.

What happens next: The committee approved the CIP request as presented and directed staff to continue work on the FY‑27 budget guidelines; members asked for a revised draft that aligns the guidelines with the strategic plan priorities and that explicitly describes expected outcomes under an override and under a no‑override scenario.

Ending: The committee set a near‑term timeline for finishing the guideline language so administration can use it to prepare budget forecasts and community outreach materials.