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Superintendent details contract costs and transportation shortfall as committee weighs FY26 options
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Quang read projected contract cost increases for FY26 and later years and outlined a transportation funding gap after the city's initial allocation. Committee members and the mayor said the figures require more negotiation with city finance staff; committee extended the meeting to continue budget deliberations.
The Methuen School Committee on April 16 reviewed a set of preliminary fiscal figures presented by Superintendent Dr. Quang and discussed next steps after the city provided a FY26 target that leaves a multi-million-dollar gap.
Key fiscal points read into the record - Contract impacts: Dr. Quang read the projected cost of contracted salary increases for bargaining Unit A (teachers). The superintendent recited FY26 cost for a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Unit A as $1,662,251.32 and the FY27 COLA as $2,038,020.12; step and longevity costs for Unit A were also presented (figures read during the meeting). - Transportation shortfall: administrators said the city's initial allocation for non-net school spending (transportation and related items) was about $9.4 million while the district's transportation estimate totaled roughly $11.7 million, leaving a gap of about $2,293,542 that the district must account for or reduce.
Committee discussion and process Committee members stressed the preliminary nature of the figures and urged the superintendent and mayor's office to continue negotiating. Representative Ryan Hamilton, who attended the meeting, described several prospective state actions (supplemental funding for special education and circuit breaker increases) that could materially improve the district's bottom line but are not finalized.
Formal, procedural actions at the meeting - The committee accepted the amended agenda at the start of the meeting (voice vote as taken by roll call). The motion was moved by the vice chair and seconded by Member DiZaglio; the chair counted the ayes and declared the agenda accepted. - With public participation running long the committee voted to continue past 9 p.m. (motion by Member Willett; second by Member Shabilia; the motion passed by voice vote). - Later, the committee voted to continue past 10 p.m. by roll call (motion by Member DiZaglio; second by Member Shabilia). Roll call for that extension recorded: DeZaglio yes; Donovan yes; Keegan yes; Maxwell no; Shabilia yes; Willett no; Mayor Beauregard yes (tally 5–2 in favor). - The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at 10:21 p.m.
Next steps Superintendent and city finance staff said they will meet again to explore further options, review the House and Senate budget developments and analyze potential offsets (federal fund allocations, contract details and transportation routing to reduce busing costs). Multiple committee members asked the superintendent to present revised scenarios at follow-up sessions before the committee takes any final votes.
