Braintree School Committee projects $783,000 FY26 shortfall; outlines cuts that could eliminate 11.4 teaching positions

Assistant Superintendent Nora Bonanza opened the meeting’s budget segment with a second draft update for fiscal year 2026, telling the School Committee the district is projecting a level-services increase of about 4.49 percent, roughly $3.5 million over the FY25 budget.

The projected funding shortfall for FY26 is approximately $783,000, Bonanza said. The committee reviewed an illustrative set of cuts that would bring the budget back to baseline: 11.4 teaching FTEs and several noninstructional reductions, including a proposed cut to the continuing education program and a 0.5 administrative assistant. The superintendent and leadership team emphasized the list is a draft to guide decisions, not final action.

Why it matters: The shortfall follows a year of previous reductions and comes as enrollment patterns and special-education costs shift. The committee and town leaders cautioned that, without additional revenue from the town or other sources, program reductions and larger class sizes are the likely alternatives.

The draft budget shows several drivers for increased costs. Bonanza credited higher special-education legal and contracted services for parts of the administration and guidance increases, and a new school-bus contract that raises transportation costs. The district plans to add one small bus (and a driver) to meet legal transportation obligations for preschool and special-education students; the bus fee remains $3.60 per rider with a family cap of $7.20 and a waiver for low-income families, Bonanza said.

Special-education contracted services and out-of-district tuition pushed several categories higher: guidance and pupil services are estimated to rise about 7.4 percent; programs with other districts (out‑of‑district tuition) were projected to rise roughly 18 percent, the presentation said. The district expects software maintenance and instructional-software costs to add to operations, showing as a $65,000 increase in the operations line when some grant-funded projects' maintenance costs move into operating budgets.

John Briggs of the district technology staff summarized software pressures: "Instructional software is like the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite for the art program. Google for Education is actually instructional software because these are Google Classroom, the apps, all slides, the docs, sheets," Briggs said in the meeting.

Officials noted an enrollment snapshot: the district reported 290 full‑day kindergarten registrations and 21 half‑day registrations, for a total of 311 students at the time of the report. That registration total will factor into where students are placed as redistricting or consolidation conversations continue.

Stabilization fund, town buffers and five‑year outlook

Committee members and Mayor Mary Joyce debated whether a town-level special-education stabilization fund would reduce pressure on the school budget. "The town needs more revenue, and most of our revenue comes from property taxes," Mayor Joyce said, urging a multi-pronged approach that includes economic development, potential debt exclusions for capital projects, and careful reserve management.

Joyce warned that the district’s five‑year projection remains challenging: with conservative town revenue assumptions, the district’s expenses are projected to outpace funding through FY29, where the shortfall could exceed $1.6 million if current trends continue. Committee members noted that moving a $300,000 special-education buffer to a town stabilization fund would shift that money to another municipal bucket but would not eliminate the need for a long-term revenue solution.

Program priorities and possible restorations

The administration presented a ‘‘wish list’’ of items that were not in the FY26 draft but would be added if new funding became available: two elementary-level team chairs to support special-education coordination (the presentation estimated roughly $250,000 for this staffing investment), two elementary BCBAs (behavior analysts), additional EL teachers and professional development.

If the $783,000 gap is not otherwise addressed, the district’s list of proposed cuts included (per the FY26 presentation): - One social studies teacher, one science teacher and one math teacher at the high school; a 0.4 guidance reduction and 0.6 high‑school art FTE; a high‑school hall monitor cut. - Middle school cuts: elimination of seventh‑grade world language and the fifth‑grade math lab, plus two subject teachers at South Middle School. - Elementary reductions: removal of two classroom teachers across the district. - Program reductions: elimination of the continuing education community program and a 0.5 administrative assistant.

Presenters said some of the reductions would increase class sizes and reduce elective choices and academic supports. When asked about the instructional impact, the administration said the most immediate effects would be larger classes and fewer electives and supports for students.

What the committee voted or directed

At the meeting the committee did not adopt the proposed cuts as formal policy; the budget presentation was taken as an updated draft to guide further discussion with town officials. Mayor Joyce and several members urged a longer-term approach that combines conservative budgeting, consideration of capital choices, and measures to rebuild reserves.

Ending note

Committee members said they will continue the budget discussion at future meetings while coordinating with town officials about stabilization options and town revenue prospects. Several members said that any short‑term fix should be paired with a multi‑year plan to avoid repeated annual budget crises.