Norwood preliminary FY27 budget: 2.96% increase driven by salary steps; transportation and special education costs highlighted

The school committee received a multi‑item budget briefing in which personnel, transportation and student services leaders summarized drivers for the FY27 preliminary budget.

Personnel: Administrators said the FY27 preliminary budget holds FTEs level at just under 570 but estimates a total budget increase of 2.96%. Salary drivers include contract step increases and a 3.25% cost‑of‑living adjustment for unit educators; an additional top step built into the contract will increase salary costs (estimated roughly $855,000) even without adding FTEs. Administrators said column transfers and stipend reviews are ongoing.

Transportation: The district increased yellow bus service from 13 to 16 buses (Connolly & Sons is the vendor) to support the new middle school; the transportation operating budget is reported at just under $4.2 million with 52 drivers, 8 CDL mini‑bus drivers, 28 monitors and a fleet that includes 40 vans and 7 mini buses for special education routes. Staffing shortages (especially spare CDL drivers and backup buses) and late registrations remain management challenges. Officials said keeping transportation in‑house saves significant vendor costs compared with contracting out special education routes.

Student services / Special Education: Student services leaders reported 745 students with IEPs, with inclusion the district’s priority (majority served in inclusive settings). The district listed 68 out‑of‑district placements and showed historical out‑of‑district tuition trends. Administrators said the FY27 out‑of‑district tuition gross total in the table is about $10.3 million; after state circuit breaker credits the net budgetary effect is lower. Staff described program development to bring some students back in‑district and investment in staff training (safety‑care trainers and paraprofessional expansion) to reduce residential or restrictive placements over time.

No final votes on the budget were taken at the meeting; administrators said further work (final insurance/cherry sheets and grant figures) is needed before a final budget is presented in later hearings.