Southampton officials outline effects of three FY27 budgets on Norris Elementary

Town Administrator Scott Zaback and Hampshire Regional Superintendent Dr. Nieto Peron outlined how three FY27 budget scenarios would affect Norris Elementary School, urging residents to review materials before the town meeting on May 2 and the town election ballot on May 19.

The discussion, part of the town’s budget series, focused on a level-funded baseline (no override), a $1.9 million override that would partially restore services cut last year, and a $2.5 million override intended to restore those services fully. "We have town meeting coming up on May 2. It's gonna be at 10:00 a.m., and it's gonna be at Norris Elementary School," Zaback said, noting the town election on May 19 will also include override questions.

Why it matters: Schools consume roughly 70–75% of Southampton’s revenue, and Peron said recent cuts have reduced staffing and services that support early-grade learning and high-need students. "If a student isn't reading at grade level by third grade, then they are going to be struggling all the way to high school," Dr. Nieto Peron said, explaining why paraprofessionals, interventionists and special-education services are central to the district’s strategy.

Funding context: Peron reviewed revenue streams that support the schools — the town appropriation, federal grants (Title I, II and IV), IDEA funds for special-education, REAP rural-aid and other grants and revolving funds — and warned of uncertainty in federal and some state funding. The speakers referenced the state’s cherry sheet and both chapters 78 and 70 in explaining how state aid flows to the town and is passed on to the school department.

What would change under each scenario: With no override (level-funded), Peron said the district would face further reductions beyond last year’s roughly $500,000 in cuts. He listed likely additional losses: reduced preschool paraprofessional hours, elimination of a remaining reading interventionist, shortened vice-principal contract days (which could affect the district’s ability to carry out Title IX and bullying investigations), a half-time custodian cut and reduced speech hours. Peron said those savings would total a roughly $187,000 additional reduction at Norris (amount reported in the discussion as approximate).

Under the $1.9 million override, Peron said the budget would partially restore several positions and services: a math interventionist and art teacher would return, the reading interventionist would increase from 0.8 to 1.0 full-time equivalent, and a kindergarten classroom with a paraprofessional would be re-established to bring K class sizes closer to the 15–18 range he described as appropriate for early grades.

The $2.5 million override, Peron said, would restore the prior-year cuts at Norris without adding new programs: kindergarten teacher and para, grade 1 teacher, a full-time reading interventionist, nurse and administrative assistant hours, occupational therapy and speech services, professional development and classroom supply lines.

Process and next steps: Zaback explained the sequence voters will face. Town meeting (May 2) will consider a single article with two funding options and one motion; the May 19 ballot will present two questions. The highest amount approved by both town meeting and the ballot will determine which override level takes effect. Zaback and Peron pointed listeners to detailed budget documents on the town and Hampshire Regional websites and encouraged residents to review them before voting.

Peron closed by urging informed participation: "By having this conversation... people can make a decision that's best for them and their family," he said. The town meeting on the override will be May 2 at Norris Elementary; the ballot questions will be on the annual election ballot on May 19.