Norwood school committee hears sharp public pushback on FY26 budget cuts to Latin and elementary specials

Norwood — The Norwood School Committee and district administrators on March 19 presented a proposed $65,292,117 fiscal 2026 school budget that would increase spending 6.7% over FY25 while shifting staff to open the new Coakley Middle School. The budget drew sustained public comment and a directive from the committee to the budget subcommittee and administration to revisit several staffing and schedule changes before the panel’s final vote next week.

The district’s senior staff opened the hearing by summarizing key elements of the proposal. “This is a $65,292,117 budget that represents a 6.7 increase over the Norwood Public Schools FY '25 budget,” Superintendent Tim Lehi said. The plan adds 6.6 net full‑time equivalent positions to support Coakley, funds 12.8 support positions and budgets for two additional behavior interventionists and a director of safety, compliance and communications, Lehi said. The budget also assumes about $125,000 for middle‑school curriculum coordination and funds two to three additional yellow buses, a line the administrators said increases transportation costs by roughly $894,271 because of the new routes and a recent bus bid.

Why it matters: the budget would reallocate an existing world‑language teacher from the high school to provide a world‑language program starting in fifth grade at Coakley, effectively removing a dedicated Latin teacher position at Norwood High School. The administration told the committee it would…