Methuen School Committee adopts FY26 budget; administrators say cityoffer would force roughly 50 layoffs

Methuen School Committee members on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, voted to adopt a school-committee recommended operating budget of $102,639,745 and a total FY26 spending plan of $137,172,120, even as city officials and committee members warned a lower city proposal would trigger deep layoffs and program cuts.

The committeeadopted the school-committeerecommended operating number after a contentious public hearing in which the superintendent and union leaders described potential cuts that would affect classroom staffing, reading specialists, nurses and counselors. The mayor presented a lower net-school-spending number of $99,456,385 that administrators said would require roughly 42 Unit A layoffs, 3 Unit B layoffs and 5 unaffiliated positions eliminated (about 50 positions).

The committeeadopted number reflects the package the superintendent presented to the panel after weeks of budget workshops and line-by-line reviews. "This is probably the most real time, budget I have ever presented," Superintendent Dr. Quang told the committee, describing changes made as recently as the meeting day to reflect the best available figures.

Most important facts and why they matter

- The school committee voted to adopt a school-committee operating budget of $102,639,745 and, after approved chargebacks of $23,471,071, a combined FY26 school budget of $137,172,120. The mayor offered a lower net-school-spending number, $99,456,385.

- Administrators told the committee the budget pressure is driven by rising out-of-district special-education tuition and related contracted services, higher transportation costs after a new contract, increases in utilities and technology contracts, and the loss of…