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Auburn superintendent outlines FY27 draft budget, warns of Title I cut and limited new positions
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Chamberlain presented a $33.97 million FY27 draft budget — a 3.92% increase over FY26 — citing $3.69 million in offsets, a likely $150,000 Title I reduction and no new positions while the district absorbs enrollment shifts and rising special-education costs.
Dr. Meg Chamberlain, Auburn's superintendent, presented the school district's draft FY27 budget to the school committee on April 8, saying the plan totals $33,968,107.62 and reflects a 3.92% increase over the FY26 appropriated budget.
The draft relies on $3,685,802 in offsets, uses October 1 enrollment data and assumes a roughly 1% Chapter 70 increase (about $175,000). Chamberlain told the committee the district has already cut roughly $100,000 earlier this year and that six positions are not being filled in the coming year. She also warned that federal Title I funding is likely to fall by about $150,000 because recent federal calculations show the district's poverty rate has dropped below the 5% threshold for full Title I eligibility.
"We know we are the biggest part of [the town] budget... we take what we do with it very seriously," Chamberlain said, explaining that the draft balances contractual obligations, class-size recommendations and social-emotional supports while avoiding new hires.
Business manager Jennifer Stanek outlined central-administration lines: central-administration salaries of $645,961.35, support costs of $1,875,994.35 and a total central line of $2,521,955.65. Pupil-services director Carrie Cox reported a total pupil-services budget of $3,306,966.58. Building leaders gave school-level totals: Auburn High School's FY27 total of $8,226,244.69 (including athletics and fine-arts costs of $659,993.32), Auburn Middle School's total of $6,132,672.63, and a preschool budget figure of $1,101,960.37.
Chamberlain noted district trends that complicate planning: a gradual decline in overall enrollment and a sharp increase in special-education enrollment that has driven private-placement and higher tuition needs. She said the district has budgeted a 5% increase in private school tuition for special education and has used revolving accounts (building rentals, athletics, preschool tuition) and anticipated Medicaid reimbursements to offset expenses.
The public portion of the hearing drew no speakers; after the presentation committee member (speaker 3) moved to close the public hearing and the motion passed by voice vote.
What happens next: Chamberlain said the committee's review will feed into town meeting conversations and that final state Chapter 70 numbers (and actual Title I allocations) could change the plan later this spring.
