Westford School Committee holds FY26 budget hearing as music, PE and intervention cuts draw public comment

The Westford School Committee opened a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 school budget on Jan. 7, allowing residents three minutes each to raise budget-related issues ahead of the committee’s planned Jan. 21 vote and the town’s March 22 annual town meeting. The hearing was opened by motion and closed later in the evening after roughly two hours of public testimony and replies from district leadership.

Why it matters: The hearing drew sustained attention to program-level impacts from last year’s budget reductions and the district’s FY26 proposal. Multiple students and parents urged the committee to restore music staffing at Westford Academy, questioned how PE graduation requirements affect scheduling and elective access, and sought clarity about changes to reading and math interventions for younger students.

District leaders described how some line‑item changes reflect reallocated positions rather than new cuts, and said the FY26 proposal seeks to hold or stabilize services in key areas while using one‑time reserves and non‑general fund balances to smooth near‑term impacts. Doctor Chu, superintendent, and Ginny Lynn, director of finance, answered technical questions and outlined next steps for committee votes and town-level review.

Public concerns centered on Westford Academy’s music staffing. Several students and parents, including sophomore Madarika Silva Kumar and seniors Isabella Hessey and Maria Reuther, said orchestra and other…