Hopkinton presentation: FY26 school budget seeks 6.41% increase, committee approves several gifts and policy items

Hopkinton Superintendent Dr. Kavanaugh presented the Hopkinton Public Schools proposed fiscal year 2026 operating budget and recommended staffing additions during the joint School Committee and Select Board meeting on Jan. 9, 2025.

The district’s FY26 operating request would raise salaries by $2,900,000 (reported as a 4.74 percent increase) and increase expenses by a little more than $1,000,000 (reported as 1.67 percent), producing a total operating increase of 6.41 percent, district finance staff said. Officials described the operating budget as largely people-driven, noting roughly 80 percent of operating spending is salary and benefits.

Why it matters: School committee members said the budget reflects enrollment growth, higher special‑education costs and contractual obligations. Committee members and district leaders emphasized limits on where cuts could be made without reducing student-facing services.

Budget highlights and staffing requests - Current preK–12 enrollment reported in the presentation: 4,251 students; the district discussed several enrollment projections, including earlier forecasts of about 4,290–4,416 and a 2020 projection of 4,355 that staff said they are electing to use for planning. - Staffing requests described in the presentation: a shared 1.0 FTE intensive special‑needs teacher split between Elmwood and Marathon (presented as 0.5/0.5), an assistant principal at Elmwood (1.0 FTE), a 1.0 FTE reading tutor at Hopkins School, a 0.6 FTE computer science teacher, a 1.0 FTE French teacher at the high school, three paraprofessionals, one additional technology technician and a 0.5 custodian. District staff said some paraprofessionals are already working and would be folded into the FY26 operating budget.

Superintendent Dr. Kavanaugh and finance presenter Mrs. Rademich explained special education and transportation increases: circuit breaker reimbursements and a special‑education reserve were described as offsets; transportation increases include a contract increase and the addition of one new bus. Mrs. Rademich summarized the operating budget visuals and said the largest single budget category is regular education (reported at 52 percent) followed by student services (reported at 24 percent).

Committee discussion and fiscal context School Committee Chair Nancy and other members pressed for clarity on the district’s “gap” and revenue assumptions. Multiple committee members noted that the current presented gap had moved down during recent negotiations and discussion; one committee member summarized the current gap as about $3,000,000. Members also asked whether proposed staffing (for example, an additional French teacher) could be delayed if revenue proved insufficient.

In response, Dr. Kavanaugh said that certain services — particularly individualized special‑education services required by students’ IEPs — are legally required and therefore not reasonable candidates for cuts. She described the FY26 request as “level services,” saying a lower number would likely require reductions in programs or staffing that would affect students.

Votes at a glance (formal motions recorded during the meeting) - Accept Hopkins School gift account: motion to accept $6,060.35, moved by Jamie, second by Chris; vote: unanimous aye. (Purpose described: schoolwide uses such as field‑trip support or schoolwide purchases.) - Accept CPAC Shark Project donation: motion to accept donation of school supplies valued at $250, moved by Jamie, second by Susan; vote: unanimous aye. - Approve amended education collaborative agreement (admission of King Philip Regional and Sharon Public Schools to the regional tech collaborative): motion by Susan, second by Chris; vote: unanimous aye. - Accept donation of 14‑passenger “sprinter” van: motion to accept donation valued at $77,529, moved by Chris, second by Jamie; vote: unanimous aye. The district noted boosters were the primary funders and that legal counsel would finalize operational protocols. - Approve revised timeline for superintendent search committee: motion by Kyla; vote: unanimous aye. - Approve focus group plan for superintendent search: motion to hold four focus groups (two staff sessions, two community sessions), moved by Jamie, second by Chris; vote: unanimous aye. Staff sessions were planned for after-school hours (one at about 2:45 p.m. and one later), and the committee asked for a mix of virtual and in-person community sessions. - Approve policy JIC (student discipline) — second reading and adoption: motion by Susan, second by Chris; vote: unanimous aye. Committee members said the policy was adapted from state law and the DESE civil rights review recommendations. - Approve items by consensus as listed on the agenda: motion by Jamie, second by Chris; vote: unanimous aye. - Enter executive session under M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(2) (collective bargaining strategy re: Hopkinton Teachers Association): motion by Susan, second by Kyla; roll call votes recorded as yes (Kyla, Chris, Susan, Jamie, chair); entered executive session at 8:28 p.m.

What officials said Dr. Kavanaugh (Superintendent) said the budget “stresses financial responsibility and responding to shifts in demographics and student needs” and framed many staffing requests as responses to caseload and instructional leadership needs. Mrs. Rademich (finance presenter) gave the dollar figures and explained offsets, including revolving funds and circuit breaker reimbursements.

What’s next The committee scheduled a public hearing on the budget next week and indicated final votes will follow as revenue projections (including the governor’s first budget pass and local revenue certifications) become clearer. Committee members asked district leaders to review priorities and, where possible, identify items that could be delayed if revenues come in lower than hoped.

Ending note Committee members repeatedly said the district had little “fat” to trim and emphasized the legal obligations for services in students’ IEPs. Several members urged a cooperative process with town leadership to identify priorities and to narrow the remaining gap ahead of town meeting and May’s appropriation decisions.