Nantucket Public Schools presents $45.3 million FY27 budget, asks town for pay, community‑school and curriculum funds

NANTUCKET — Nantucket Public Schools officials on March 3 presented a proposed FY27 budget projecting $45,299,847 and urged the town to consider several targeted increases to cover contractual pay, rising operating costs and curriculum needs.

The district presenter opened the public hearing by saying the budget “is our story — it’s the story of our students,” and described the FY27 submission as information the committee will also present to the town finance committee next week. A staff member summarized totals in the presentation and described the year as "challenging," saying the slide deck listed the district’s current budget at roughly $43 million and the FY27 projection at $45,299,847.

The presentation highlighted enrollment trends and program costs the district says shape the budget. Enrollment has fallen from recent highs, with the October SIMS count reported at about 1,653 students; demographic shifts and a small kindergarten class contributed to the decline, officials said. The district reported 368 English learners in the October SIMS and a special-education count of 366 with a projected 371 next year.

Officials flagged several cost pressures: per‑pupil spending was reported about $7,126 above the state average using 2023–24 data, utilities and contractor costs have risen (propane costs were cited as up about 31% year over year), and out‑of‑district special‑education tuition continues to increase. The staff member who presented the budget said the district’s payroll/operating split has moved from an “optimal” 80/20 to roughly 83/17, leaving operating lines underfunded.

The presenter listed federal entitlement grants the district receives this year: IDEA ($453,872), Title I ($195,639), Title II ($35,450), Title III (about $53,000) and Title IV ($10,000). She warned the district expects the possibility of “significant decreases” in these grants for FY27 under the current presidential administration but said details were not yet available.

District leaders told the committee they are asking the town for three specific increases: $75,000 to help cover contractual teacher pay increases, a $150,000 increase to the Nantucket Community School appropriation to address an ongoing shortfall, and a one‑time allocation for a new ELA curriculum. The presenter said the curriculum request was $200,000; a staff member then clarified a figure of $277,000 appeared elsewhere in the presentation materials.

“We are hopeful we’re going to get the insurance reimbursements” for recent storm damage, the staff member said, but cautioned that reimbursements take time and the immediate impact has hit operating budgets. He added that the district has been negotiating with town officials and will present the budget to the finance committee next Tuesday.

Committee members asked for context on the district’s per‑pupil rank and on aging infrastructure. A member noted a generator serving the middle and high school is 40 years old and asked if the town could help pay for an upgrade because the schools also serve as shelter locations; the presenter said the district will bring the matter to the town and that the replacement would likely be capital‑funded.

The meeting began with a procedural vote to approve the agenda and concluded after questions; committee members voted to adjourn following the presentation. The district’s FY27 budget will be considered further at the town finance committee meeting and during annual town meeting deliberations.

What’s next: the School Committee will present this budget to the town finance committee next week; the district emphasized ongoing negotiations with town officials over the requested increases and noted federal grant uncertainty for FY27.