Smithfield School Committee approves FY26 budget request, adds $400,000 capital ask

The Smithfield School Committee on Feb. 27 approved a superintendent-recommended request for the town appropriations of an operating budget for fiscal year 2026 and separately approved a $400,000 capital request for school renovations.

The superintendent recommended an operating budget request of $35,387,000 and described that recommendation as a 3.25% increase over the prior year, including an increase of about $1,000,109.65 for FY26. The committee then voted, by voice, to approve the operating request. The committee also voted, by voice, to request $400,000 in capital funds for building renovations; that motion passed as well.

The superintendent told the committee that once the school committee’s votes are recorded the request will go to the town manager, who will prepare a recommended municipal budget. That recommendation will then go to the town’s financial review board and ultimately to the town council. The superintendent cautioned that if the town or state aid differs from the requested amounts the district will revisit the budget and must present a balanced budget later in the process.

Committee members asked for additional information before finalizing some elements of next year’s spending. One committee member requested a staffing-prioritization breakdown showing the seven positions the administration had recommended and the superintendent walked members through how she prioritized four positions if funding permits: an additional high-school science teacher, an additional half‑time nurse at Pleasant View, additional paraprofessionals at two schools to meet IEP needs, and an additional maintenance person; other requests (math interventionists, recess monitors and athletic stipend increases) were discussed but not ranked as top priorities.

The superintendent and administration agreed to provide follow-up materials that committee members requested, including a projection comparing this year’s salary-and-benefit totals with the FY26 budgeted salary-and-benefit totals. The committee chair reminded members that small working meetings with town finance representatives would be scheduled in compliance with open‑meetings rules and that later adjustments could be made after the town review if required.

The motions were made, seconded and approved by voice vote (the clerk reported “the ayes have it”). No roll-call tallies of individual yes/no votes were recorded in the meeting minutes for these votes.