Freetown-Lakeville officials recommend $47.98 million FY26 budget as staff warn cuts would hit student services

Interim staff presented two options for the Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District’s fiscal 2026 budget and recommended the committee vote a $47,975,033 total — a level that includes a $400,000 placeholder drawn from school-choice funds to preserve time to absorb possible state aid changes.

The recommendation came from Jack Higgins, staff member, who described the district’s budget process and the adjustments that produced the two options. “It is my recommendation, the recommendation of the acting superintendents, that the budget number would be voted at $400,000 greater at $47,975,033 with $400,000 as a placeholder being used from additional money from our school choice fund,” Higgins said.

Why it matters: District staff said deeper cuts would require staff reductions after supplies and other discretionary lines were pared to minimal levels. Teachers, paraprofessionals and parents warned that the smaller proposed increase would reduce services for students — especially those who receive special education support or tiered interventions.

Higgins told the committee the original, level-service proposal presented in February was $49,135,217. Subsequent updated salary, health-insurance and out-of-district tuition figures produced about $500,000 in additional savings, producing a lower draft of $47,575,033. The recommended $47,975,033 option uses a $400,000 school-choice placeholder to allow time for possible state funding changes between the committee’s April vote and the towns’ annual meetings.

Committee member Courtney Brightman said the regional finance committee had voted unanimously to support the option using the $400,000 placeholder. “As per the regional agreement, we did vote on a recommended budget. The regional finance committee did vote unanimously to also support the option B utilizing the 400,000 as the placeholder from school choice,” Brightman said.

District staff described several line-item changes included in the budget books: a 3% contract increase for teachers, paraprofessionals and secretaries baked into salary projections; moving some positions previously paid from IDEA grants into the general fund (a reclassification intended to use those dollars more efficiently); and a 20% allocation of a float nurse salary to each building where the nurse provides part-time service.

Public testimony at the meeting was dominated by district staff and educators urging the committee to reject the lower-budget option when it comes to a formal vote on April 9. Dozens of speakers said cuts would reduce tutoring programs, increase class sizes and eliminate paraprofessionals and interventionists.

Dan Rutledge, who identified himself as a district educator, told the committee the revised proposal “would take away vital opportunities that our district's children need to succeed and compete” and urged members to reject the budget on April 9. Multiple staff speakers from elementary and middle schools echoed similar concerns.

Lakeville Finance Committee member Christopher Blanca told the committee that, for Lakeville, the latest proposed assessment increase — about $726,707 — would absorb nearly all of that town’s 2.5% tax-levy growth allowed under state law. Blanca said that leaves Lakeville little room to increase its own budget and warned that if the school committee’s proposed budget were rejected and later approved at town meeting, Lakeville would face either deep local cuts or an override request at a future ballot.

What’s next: The school committee is scheduled to vote on the budget on April 9. Higgins said the district hoped for additional state transportation or other aid that could reduce the number of required reductions if it arrives between the committee vote and the towns’ meetings.

No formal budget vote took place at the meeting; the presentation and public comment were part of the committee’s FY26 budget hearing.