North Brookfield School Committee approves modified FY26 cuts, preserves art, music and high‑school physical education positions

The North Brookfield Public School Committee voted to approve an amended set of FY26 budget reductions on a voice vote, but the committee removed three personnel cuts from the list: a full‑time district art teacher, a full‑time district music teacher and the high‑school physical‑education teacher.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment, student presentations and a presentation from Superintendent Tim McCormick about revenue drivers and proposed reductions. The superintendent described the proposal as a “level‑service” budget that would hold programming steady while closing a shortfall driven primarily by rising salaries, transportation costs and special‑education placements.

Why it matters: Committee members said they faced a hard choice between staff cuts and deep program reductions. Committee discussion made clear the political and community stakes: many residents and students urged preservation of arts, music and athletics, arguing those programs support student engagement and help retain families in town.

McCormick told the committee the recommended budget was “just over $8 million” and that year‑to‑year increases were concentrated in salaries, transportation and special‑education tuition. He said district salary and contractual obligations alone accounted for the largest share of the…