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Chicopee schools present $131.6M FY2026 budget as special-education tuition, transportation and staffing costs rise
Summary
School leaders told the Council the school budget rises to $131,601,452 for FY2026, driven largely by out-of-district special-education tuition increases and higher transportation costs; leaders said circuit-breaker and school-choice funds will offset part of the cost but vacancies and unsettled contracts add uncertainty.
CHICOPEE, Mass.
Chicopee Public Schools officials presented a $131,601,452 FY2026 budget to the City Council on June 26, saying the district faces sharply higher costs for out-of-district special-education placements, transportation and contract settlements while some one-time federal supports have ended.
Nut graf: The school budget is the single largest line in the city package and school leaders told councilors that out-of-district tuition and special-education transportation are the primary cost drivers. Officials said federal ESSER funds have ended, circuit-breaker reimbursements and school-choice receipts will offset some costs, and the district is still negotiating multiple labor contracts.
Key details discussed
- Out-of-district tuition: School officials said tuition spending has grown from roughly $3 million in 2024 to an anticipated nearly $6 million in FY2026. Superintendent Antonio Ware (Dr. Ware) and John Majorecki, director of budget and finance, told the council that placement rates for specialized…
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