Norwood Finance Commission reviews proposed FY26 school budget; Coakley staffing, transportation and warrant articles highlighted

NORWOOD, Mass. — The Norwood Finance Commission on Thursday heard a presentation from Superintendent Lehi and school staff on the Norwood Public Schools proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget, which Lehi said represents about a 6.7% increase from FY25 and is approximately $65.3 million.

Lehi told commissioners the proposal adds 6.6 full-time equivalent positions to staff the new Coakley Middle School and shifts additional elementary staff to middle-school roles. "The budget that we are presenting tonight is" Lehi said, describing new and transferred positions and a number of program adjustments intended to balance student needs and fiscal constraints.

The budget presentation focused on several near-term priorities: staffing for the new Coakley Middle School, increased transportation costs tied to adding two to three buses and a new bus contract, program and specialist reductions at the elementary level, and three warrant articles the school is requesting the town consider at annual town meeting.

Why it matters: Finance Commission members stressed the risks of relying on one-time funds to balance recurring costs. Commissioners warned that free cash used this year may not be available in future budgets, and urged long-range planning to address projected deficits and rising health insurance and retirement costs.

Key details from the presentation

- Coakley Middle School staffing: Lehi and school staff described 6.6 new FTEs specifically to open Coakley, including an assistant principal, special education teacher, art and music teachers, a counselor, an English-language teacher and a 0.6 administrative assistant. In addition, roughly 24.8 FTEs will move to the middle school as enrollments shift; many of those are transfers from elementary…