Salem School Committee reviews proposed FY26 budget; specialists and special-education costs under scrutiny

At a special meeting of the Salem School Committee on April 15, 2025, administrators presented follow-up details on the proposed fiscal 2026 budget and answered committee questions about specialist staffing, library services, and rising special-education tuition costs. The session followed a public hearing held the night before and focused on clarifications and next steps rather than a final vote.

Superintendent Dr. Zreich opened the discussion by thanking the public and saying the presentation was intended to clarify points raised at the prior hearing. "We will have a total in this budget of 5 family engagement facilitators," Dr. Zreich said, describing how those positions would be allocated (one each at Salem High School and Collins Middle School, and three split among six elementary schools).

Nut graf: The committee’s most immediate budget concerns were twofold: a package of proposed changes to specialist positions at the preK–5 level (1.0 net specialist FTE reduction after some additions) and a substantial projected increase in out-of-district special-education tuition that district staff said could add roughly $1.4 million to next year’s costs unless state reimbursements change. Administrators said several funding uncertainties — including a pending legislative supplemental budget and an ongoing state early-education funding discussion — could materially alter the numbers before a final FY26 budget is adopted.

District presentation and key figures

- Specialist staffing: Kate Carboni, Salem Public Schools staff, summarized the net specialist change in the proposal. The budget as presented would cut one full-time PE teacher, 0.5 music teacher, 0.5 art teacher and civics (noted as a position that exists only at one elementary school), for cuts totaling 3.0 FTE in the specialist category while adding two library digital media specialists. Carboni said that combination results in a net reduction…