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 circuit-breaker carryforward funds the district historically used to offset those costs. Dr. Quang said the district lacks the carryforward it had in prior years and that makes contracted services "appear higher" in the FY26 line items.

- The Oct. 1 enrollment count used to set state foundation aid is fixed; the superintendent said MethuenPublic Schools' enrollment has increased since Oct. 1 and the district cannot retroactively claim those additional students or the roughly $18,000 per-student funding they would generate.

Discussion, votes and next steps

The mayor told the committee he planned to present a balanced city budget to the city council and that his office was seeking to use free cash to bridge the district's non-net gap. The committee then formally voted on a package the superintendent and staff had assembled to get as close as possible to a balanced plan while retaining key positions.

The committee's roll-call vote to adopt the school-committee recommended operating number carried with four yes votes (Member Donovan, Member Keegan, Member Shabelia, Member Willette) and three no votes (Member DeZaglio, Member Maxwell, Mayor Beauregard). The committee later adopted the complete FY26 school budget (operating plus chargebacks) by the same margin. Earlier in the evening the committee voted against adopting the mayor's lower net-school-spending figure.

Public comment and district concerns

Teachers, school staff and parents spoke during the public hearing, saying proposed reductions would threaten student safety, special-education services and core instruction. Among the speakers, a Marsh Grammar School teacher described a recent hallway incident where a teacher performed the Heimlich maneuver on a choking student and warned the loss of that teacher would endanger students. Special-education and preschool staff described classroom models that rely on multiple program assistants and said proposed cuts to paraprofessionals and medically fragile nursing support would reduce services and increase risks.

Financial drivers explained by staff

- Circuit breaker: Dr. Quang explained the district has less circuit-breaker carryforward this year than in the past, so costs that were previously offset now appear as higher contracted-service line items.

- Transportation: The superintendent and the assistant superintendent for finance and operations explained the district awarded a new transportation contract after a competitive bid; the new contract raised district transportation costs substantially and contributed materially to non-net school spending growth.

- Out-of-district tuition: The superintendent noted state-set tuition rates for day and residential special-education placements have risen sharply; she said the district has no negotiating power over those state-set rates and that increases have added to the FY26 pressure.

- Federal grants: Dr. Quang said the district expects federal Title and IDEA funding for FY26 but that exact amounts are not finalized and could be lower than in prior years; the uncertainty influenced this year's planning.

Compromise items and program priorities

Committee members and the superintendent identified program priorities they sought to protect. The package that the committee ultimately adopted restored some career and technical education (CTE) positions described as revenue-generating under Chapter 74 and kept an executive assistant position in the superintendent's office in the compromise package presented to the committee.

Legal and timing consequences

Administrators warned that the timing of the city council's budget schedule relative to June 15 layoff-notice deadlines could force the district to issue layoff notices before the council acts. Dr. Quang and the district attorney's office advised that if the city council's number becomes the controlling figure, the district would proceed with the layoffs required to meet that number. The superintendent said the district has asked the city council for a free-cash transfer to lessen layoffs but that any transfer requires council approval.

What happens next

The adopted school-committee budget will be transmitted to the city council as the committee's official recommendation; the mayor will present his balanced budget to the council and the council will hold hearings and votes in the weeks ahead. Administrators said they would continue to monitor state and federal developments (including potential circuit-breaker changes) that could alter the district's fiscal picture and would return to the committee if additional action is needed.

Ending

Committee members, the mayor and the superintendent all described the vote as difficult and regrettable. "I'm not satisfied with literally any of this," Mayor Beauregard said as he described his efforts to balance citywide priorities while attempting to find additional funds for schools. The district will present the adopted figures to the city council and continue internal work this summer to finalize staffing and services based on the council's action and any state-level funding changes.