Danvers School Committee advances FY26 budget plan with emphasis on literacy, special education and transportation savings

Danvers School Committee Chair Lopes and Superintendent Bauer presented a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget Wednesday that would hold the district's increase near 3.6% while maintaining staff and programs added last year and targeting new investments in early literacy, special education and transportation efficiencies.

The plan, presented at a public budget workshop broadcast on Danvers Community Access Television, would preserve "level services" across the district while shifting some previously grant‑funded software and positions into the operating budget. Superintendent Bauer said the district will return Feb. 24 for a public hearing and hopes to send a final number to the town select board after committee review.

Administrators emphasized why the proposal matters: last year's large one‑time allocations expanded in‑district special‑education supports and early literacy work, and leaders said those gains would be jeopardized by deep cuts. "We can't shortchange this," Bauer said about early‑grade literacy supports and positions added in 2024. The presentation showed a 13‑year average budget increase of 3.87% (including last year's 6.41%), and the current proposal of about 3.6% would rely in part on continued…