Winchester School Committee backs superintendentrecommended FY26 budget after hours of debate

The Winchester School Committee voted 4-1 on March 20 to approve a recommended FY2026 district budget of $70,870,718, representing a 7.15% increase over FY2025, the committee chair announced after the roll-call vote.

Superintendent Dr. Hackett presented the recommendation, describing it as a targeted package that prioritizes a one-year literacy pilot and accompanying professional development, investments in data systems to manage DIBELS and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) data, and a set of additional priorities the administration labeled "tier 1." Dr. Hackett told the committee that the recommended package includes a projected $455,000 for assessment and MTSS software and professional development tied to literacy work.

The committee framed the vote within a larger budget process that the superintendent and members said has been unusually extended this year to gather more staff and community feedback. "We have gone over this budget multiple times," Dr. Hackett said, noting the district used ThoughtExchange surveys and public presentations to refine priorities. He described the $300,000 figure carried for pilots as an interim placeholder, saying the actual cost of different literacy pilot programs under review could range from zero to $500,000 and that the district will refine the number before town meeting.

Why it matters: the recommended budget funds curriculum and staffing changes intended to address literacy outcomes and to build district capacity to monitor student progress. Committee members debated adding personnel in the current year for middle-school schedule changes and elementary math interventions, weighing the district's instructional needs against municipal fiscal constraints and uncertainty in upcoming contract negotiations.

Discussion and key points

Members asked detailed questions about where the superintendent's priorities would be applied and whether some items should be funded as one-time expenditures or ongoing personnel. Dr. Hackett said the two software items (DIBELS progress-monitoring tools and a broader MTSS/data system) were likely to create ongoing costs beyond FY26, while some pilot costs could be one-time for the coming year.

Members voiced differing priorities: several members urged adding resources for mathematics intervention and McCall Middle School schedule changes. "There are things that we've been asked for this year which are real needs," said Dr. Matthews, noting the district's special-education and math staff presentations earlier in the year. Committee member Mr. Nixon moved to add two undesignated FTEs earmarked for McCall schedule implementation and elementary math intervention, and to include the superintendent's tier 1 items; that motion ultimately carried.

Fiscal context and constraints

Committee members discussed the town manager's report and the town's reserve policy while weighing how much to ask town meeting to fund. Mr. Nixon and others cited the town's AAA Moody's rating and the town manager's report showing current reserve levels; committee members said those factors influenced their deliberations but did not determine the committee's final recommendation.

Outcome and next steps

The motion recorded as the committee's recommended FY26 district budget (dollar total above) passed on a 4-1 roll call. The committee chair said the approved recommendation will be forwarded into the municipal budget process; the superintendent and staff said they will continue to seek outside funding where available and will refine pilot details before town meeting. Dr. Hackett also said the administration will post detailed budget documents and supporting presentations on the district finance web page.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to establish the FY26 district recommended budget of $70,870,718 (increase 7.15%): Passed, 4-1. - The committee's packet and public presentations will be posted on the district finance web page; staff said updated materials would be available before town meeting.

A closing note from the superintendent;

Dr. Hackett urged the committee and the community to treat the literacy pilots as carefully evaluated trials: "There will be an evaluation system in place that will include making sure that by the time we get to the end of the pilot period, we have good data on the effectiveness from our teachers' perspective, from our students' perspective, and also from our parent community perspective on the programs themselves."