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Worcester Public Schools ask council to approve $524 million FY26 budget; officials outline class-size and safety plans
Summary
Superintendent and deputy superintendent presented a $524 million FY26 appropriation — a 6% increase tied to Chapter 70 and city funds — and described plans for about 50 new teachers, bus stop‑arm cameras under police review, modular classroom use and boundary changes to ease elementary overcrowding.
WORCESTER, Mass. — Worcester Public Schools officials asked the City Council finance committee on Tuesday to approve a recommended FY26 appropriation of $524,000,000, a 6% increase over FY25 that the district said reflects higher Chapter 70 state aid and an increased city contribution. The request also includes $4,000,000 for school capital borrowing, boosted by $1,000,000 in additional borrowing authority.
The district’s deputy superintendent, Bridal Allen, told the committee the FY26 operating budget “reflects an increase in about 50 teaching positions next year.” Allen said the planned hires break down to 25 at the secondary level (grades 7–12), 15 at the elementary level and 10 additional positions to be assigned in August “based on class sizes.”
District leaders described steps intended to relieve overcrowding at some elementary schools.…
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