Salem School Committee adopts $78.17 million FY2026 budget after personnel reductions

The Salem School Committee voted April 28 to adopt a $78,173,061 budget for fiscal year 2026, approving separate personnel and non-personnel totals by roll call after several weeks of community input and internal adjustments.

The committee approved the personnel budget of $60,462,704.36 and the non-personnel budget of $18,615,959 in separate roll-call votes. The final package carries a 4.8% overall appropriation increase compared with the current year and reflects recommended reductions that the district said total roughly $3.5 million in personnel cuts and related offsets. The superintendent told the committee that “new money didn't just drop out of the sky” when explaining why restorations required offsetting eliminations.

Why it matters: School leaders said the adjustments respond to constrained state funding under Chapter 70 and rising local and contracted costs. Committee members and district staff warned that similar or deeper shortfalls are likely in FY27, and that the budget will go next to the City Council for final approval on May 27.

Highlights and staff adjustments The administration recommended returning several positions after public comment, while eliminating others to achieve balance. Among the changes presented to the committee: - Returned a position at Horace Mann intended to preserve art and intervention coverage while eliminating a pre-K floater position for consistency across schools. (Horace Mann, Bates discussed as affected schools.) - Restored a full reading specialist and literacy coach at Bates after feedback that the school lacked parity with similarly sized elementary schools. - Eliminated a part-time math specialist at Saltonstall and asked elementary specialists (art, music, PE, library) to be flexible to support intervention and tutoring needs across schools. - At Salem High School, proposed eliminations included a vacant guidance counselor position (work to be supplemented by an outside partner), elimination of an internship coordinator position (work shifted to an existing CTE position), a vacant paraprofessional, and two hall monitor positions; one existing position will be shifted to a continuing grant.

Budget numbers and reserves Finance staff reported that the district’s total personnel budget in the packet is $60,462,704.36 and that the set of additional cuts and adjustments reduced the previously projected personnel savings to about $3,505,040.09. The administration said it may use school-choice reserves or hiring differentials (if retirees are replaced by lower-salaried hires) to cover a remaining gap of roughly $80,000 rather than make further reductions immediately.

Rising costs and funding constraints Committee members and the superintendent described cost pressures outside the district’s direct control, including higher utility and tuition costs and health-insurance increases. The superintendent and members cited Chapter 70 funding limitations and Proposition 2½ constraints; one committee member described how the Student Opportunity Act did not address required local contribution calculations. The superintendent said the district will pursue advocacy with state leaders as part of a longer-term response.

Hiring guidance clarified During discussion, Member Manning said the phrase “hiring to budget” caused concern; Elizabeth Pauley clarified the district will not impose a hard cap preventing principals from hiring the candidate they deem best. Pauley said, “We will tell people, like, here's what this position is budgeted at. But if Susie Superstar comes and wants to come to Salem, then we'll figure out how to make that work.” The committee agreed not to use the phrase “hiring to budget” going forward.

Next steps and oversight After the committee vote the superintendent noted the budget will be presented to the City Council for approval on May 27. Committee members said they expect to begin immediate conversations about structural changes and longer-term planning for FY27.

Quotes "New money didn't just drop out of the sky," the superintendent said while explaining that additions required other reductions. "We will tell people, like, here's what this position is budgeted at. But if Susie Superstar comes and wants to come to Salem, then we'll figure out how to make that work," Elizabeth Pauley said when clarifying hiring guidance.

Ending The budget passed by unanimous roll call among members present and now moves to the City Council for its review and vote later in May.