Tiverton schools project roughly $1.6M FY26 deficit; committee examines staff reductions and potential elementary consolidation
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Summary
Superintendent presented an updated FY26 outlook showing a projected deficit of about $1.6 million tied to enrollment declines and rising transportation and special-education costs; administrators outlined staffing impacts and asked the committee to submit questions by Feb. 3 for a Feb. 11 follow-up.
Tiverton — The superintendent told the School Committee on Jan. 28 that the district is projecting a fiscal 2026 budget shortfall of roughly $1.6 million and that the core driver is declining enrollment combined with rising mandatory costs such as transportation, special-education services and benefits.
‘‘We’re predicting a deficit of 1.6, almost 1,600,000 and some change,’’ Dr. Sanchione said, laying out a preliminary fiscal forecast built from current-year actuals with assumptions for state aid, contracts and energy. His presentation assumed a $16,000 increase in state aid, a placeholder $313,000 for technology and curriculum requests, and, for planning purposes, an illustrative 4% increase from the town.
Why it matters: Enrollment reductions statewide and in Tiverton have shrunk the student population in recent years. The superintendent and chair presented comparative October 1 enrollment counts showing a multi-year decline that, for Tiverton, amounts to a roughly 17% drop over 10 years and 32% over 20 years. Fewer students reduce state aid and make fixed staffing costs proportionally larger, officials said.
Proposed personnel impacts and consolidation scenarios: District administrators described two scenarios to close the gap: 1) maintain current school configuration (three elementary schools) with cuts that would ‘‘necessitate 12 positions’’ in a mixture of support and instructional roles; or 2) consolidate elementary schools to two buildings, a step that administrators said could require eliminating up to 14 positions overall, primarily teaching roles (the district described 9 elementary teaching positions, 3 at the high school and 2 at the middle school in that consolidation scenario). Officials emphasized these were planning estimates and that the committee would receive detailed personnel-impact charts at the Feb. 11 meeting.
Special education and transportation volatility: Administrators stressed that special-education out-of-district placements, contracted services, and statewide transportation are especially volatile budget drivers. The special-education director showed month‑to‑month swings in out‑of‑district tuition and contracted services, and transportation staff reported bid results and projection increases of 6–7 percent tied to a new RFP cycle.
Process and timeline: The superintendent asked the committee to send data and information requests by Monday, Feb. 3, so staff can compile answers ahead of the Feb. 11 meeting. The chair and the superintendent said the committee will hold a finance subcommittee meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 11 and will provide line‑by‑line expense detail for review. The committee also asked town councilors to coordinate early budget meetings; one town councilor, Dave Perry, spoke at the meeting and urged prompt, collaborative work between council and committee.
No final decisions yet: Committee members emphasized the need to protect instructional staff where possible but said difficult choices are unavoidable without additional revenue. The committee voted to refer policy work on board operations to the policy subcommittee in the same meeting and scheduled further budget review meetings in February.
What’s next: Administration will provide personnel‑impact tables and expense details at Feb. 11; the committee will use that information to develop recommendations for the town budget process ahead of the town’s March deadlines.
