East Bridgewater school committee presents FY26 budget with $1.5M gap; proposes 18 staff reductions

East Bridgewater Public Schools officials on March 12 presented a proposed FY26 school budget showing about a $1.5 million gap and recommended reducing 18 staff positions, which administrators say would raise average core-class sizes from about 19 students to 22.

Administrators told the school committee the district faces sharp increases in special-education tuition and transportation costs, a likely drop in extraordinary “circuit breaker” reimbursement and ongoing enrollment decline that together are driving the shortfall. The presentation included proposed increases in salary costs of roughly $172,000 and an approximately $1.4 million net increase for special-education tuitions and transportation in the proposed FY26 budget.

The budget presentation, given by district staff, emphasized the school district’s strategic priorities — social-emotional wellness, strong instruction and measurable student outcomes — and said administrators attempted to protect those core programs while identifying reductions that would have the least impact on student learning. “We wanted to share all the work and time and effort that goes into putting this budget together,” a district staff member said at the start of the presentation.

Administrators cited the state school-funding formula (Chapter 70), declining supplemental pandemic-era funding, rising vendor costs and special-education placement mix as principal drivers. The presentation showed East Bridgewater’s most-recent DESE-reported per-pupil spending at $16,276, lower than nearly all peer districts the presentation compared. The district said salaries account for about 75% of its budget and that special-education tuitions and transportation together account for roughly 12%.

Officials presented per-student cost ranges used for budgeting: public-school special-education placements roughly $40,000–$45,000 per pupil; collaborative placements $55,000–$70,000; private day placements $75,000–$191,000; residential placements $300,000–$400,000. Transportation costs per special-education student were shown as ranging about $17,000–$86,000 depending on need and distance. Administrators said the district has reached the maximum it can claim for extraordinary circuit-breaker relief this year, and projected a roughly $600,000 decrease in extraordinary relief in FY26 that would fall to the district’s operating budget.

To close the gap the presentation listed options under consideration: use of the school-choice account (stated as “a little over $700,000”), further staffing reductions beyond the proposed 18 positions, and changes to busing. Administrators said state law requires transportation for K–6 students who live more than two miles from school; the district currently provides paid busing options for students living under that threshold and for grades 7–12. Reducing busing for students under statutory thresholds was presented as a potential cost-saving measure but administrators warned of operational impacts at individual schools and on families.

The district also described capital requests submitted to the town capital committee and work with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA). The packet to the capital committee includes two high-school projects (art-room kiln replacement and auditorium stage replacement) and larger building projects for Central School and Mitchell School. Central School is in schematic design with an anticipated special town meeting in November 2025 for funding; Mitchell School is in the MSBA accelerated-repair program and currently on a compressed timeline that could require a separate special town meeting as early as September. Administrators said they are discussing options with the town administrator and facilities staff to minimize simultaneous funding requests to voters.

Administrators noted other cost pressures: the regular busing contract is expected to rise about $61,000, and recent MIAA action to increase pay for officials will raise athletics transportation and officials’ costs. The presentation said technology spending is being held flat; the proposed budget includes replacement of 18 classroom touch-view displays and continued investments in cybersecurity and student information systems.

Committee members and administrators said they will continue to meet with the finance committee and select board (a meeting with those bodies is scheduled for March 24) and must certify the budget 45 days before town meeting. The committee did not vote to adopt the FY26 budget at the March 12 meeting; administrators said certification is on schedule and additional budget-subcommittee meetings remain.

Votes at a glance - Motion to open the special meeting: passed (voice vote: “Aye”). - Motion to open a public hearing: recorded as agreed during opening. - Motion to adjourn: passed (voice vote: “Aye”).

The committee intends further public discussion as the budget moves through the town’s review process and toward certification and town meeting.