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Westwood presents FY26 budget with small net increase; adds student supports, flags Thurston building issues
Summary
The Westwood administration proposed an FY26 operating budget increase of 3.52% and recommended targeted staffing additions for student supports while flagging building problems at Thurston and a $530,000 electrical capital request for Sheehan.
Superintendent Tim and his administrative team presented the Westwood Public Schools’ proposed FY26 budget to the School Committee on Jan. 16, asking the committee to support a $58.0 million operating request representing a 3.52% increase over FY25 (the administration said a level‑services budget would have produced 3.88%).
Budget drivers and context
Tim said the largest drivers are contractual salary obligations (salaries make up roughly 85% of the school budget), rising special‑education tuition and transportation costs, retirement assessment increases at the county level, and health‑insurance increases. He reported that the district negotiated most bargaining units through at least next year; teachers and administrative assistants were in active negotiations with contracts expiring in June.
Key staffing and program changes proposed for FY26
- Thurston (middle school): add 1.0 FTE language‑based special‑education teacher to continue the elementary LEAP program into middle school and add 0.4 FTE adjustment‑counselor to bring Thurston to two full‑time adjustment counselors. Reduce two…
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