District warns of FY26 pressure from staff turnover and rising special‑education contract costs

Westwood administrators told the School Committee on Oct. 14 that staffing churn and outsized contracted special‑education costs are making this year's operating budget more challenging.

The district reported it began the school year with several instructional‑aide vacancies and then faced the resignation of an additional 11 ABAs before classes began. The speaker said there are now roughly 20 vacancies between instructional aides and ABAs; the district counts about 80 IA positions and 35 ABAs overall.

To maintain services, the district has contracted external providers for special‑education supports; those contract costs are driving non‑salary overages. The finance presentation said the special‑education contracted‑services line is currently over budget by about $1,080,000 and could reach approximately $1,500,000 by year end. Unanticipated tuition changes have added roughly $140,000 in pressure.

The presenter said the district expects to close the fiscal year via internal transfers, possible use of the special‑education reserve and conversations with town finance officers about shared‑cost mechanics. The superintendent and finance team noted FY27 budget planning will factor in bargaining with IA and ABA unions and the difficulties of recruiting and retaining in those roles.

Committee members pressed for more data on any markup paid to contracted providers and asked for school‑level analyses to guide resource allocation. The superintendent characterized the August resignations as an "aberration" but acknowledged the issue requires longer‑term attention to wages, recruitment and instructional quality.

Administrators said they would provide more detailed budget information during FY27 planning and continue conversations with Town Hall about mechanisms to account for benefits and shared costs.