Newburyport School Committee approves $47.35 million FY27 budget after debate on special-education cuts and school-choice reserves

The Newburyport School Committee voted to approve a FY27 budget on a voice vote after more than three hours of presentation and discussion, sending a proposed $47.35 million spending plan to the mayor for inclusion in the city's budget process.

The budget before the committee requires a city appropriation of about $41,000,000, which the finance presenter described as "a 3.88% increase over FY26," and relies on roughly $6.4 million in other school revenues to reach a projected total school budget of $47.35 million.

The committee heard detailed testimony from district leadership about steep cost pressures, especially from out-of-district special-education placements. The finance presenter said the district currently projects 34 out-of-district placements for FY27 and noted that residential placements "range anywhere in cost from $300,000 per placement, upwards of over 600 thou thousand dollars per placement," with residential program costs projected at more than $2.5 million for FY27.

Superintendent (presenting) and finance staff outlined staffing changes intended to reduce costs while protecting classroom instruction. The package includes a net reduction of 8.7 full-time-equivalent positions across the district, including reductions to English-learner positions driven by enrollment, a 0.5 reduction at the high-school special-education position, cuts to a literacy intervention role and one administrative salary (the dean position), and several reclassifications and shifts of positions among cost centers.

Vice Chair Julia Walker, speaking during the discussion, said she supported the overall effort but warned of risks: "I am very concerned about the reductions, particularly in special ed program," she said, adding that drawing down school-choice balances to the projected year-end level would leave the district vulnerable to unanticipated special-education costs.

Mayor (from the dais) proposed a compromise path to shore up school reserves over time: use a portion of certified free cash (an initial $300,000 was suggested) to create a city-level school reserve account that could provide a transparent, replenishable funding source. Several members objected to drawing school-choice funds to zero, arguing the district needs ready reserves because state circuit-breaker reimbursements arrive later in the year.

The budget presentation identified major cost drivers: personnel costs make up roughly 72% of the budget; non-personnel costs are about 27.9% and have been driven up largely by special-education and transportation expenses. Transportation alone was highlighted as increasing by roughly $2.97 million in the FY27 recommendation.

Committee members debated options for reducing outsourced costs, including bringing some transportation in-house by using district vans and stipends for staff drivers, and continued to press for monitoring of staff workloads and teacher burnout as positions are consolidated.

Votes at a glance

- Warrant approval: Motion to approve Newburyport Public Schools bills totaling $572,225.36 and forward to the city auditor — moved, seconded, approved by voice vote.

- Minutes approval: Motion to approve minutes of April 8, 2026 (with an addition noting a member's attendance at MASC Day on the Hill) — moved, seconded, approved.

- FY27 budget adoption: Motion to approve FY27 budget by cost center as presented (total approx. $47.35 million; city appropriation need 3.88%) — moved and seconded; approved by voice vote and will move to the mayor.

- Meeting calendar: Motion to approve the 2026'27 school committee business meeting schedule — moved, seconded, approved.

What happens next

With the committee's approval, the budget will move to the mayor and become part of the city's budget process. Committee members asked administration to monitor in-year developments closely and to bring midyear adjustment requests back to the committee if unanticipated special-education or other costs arise.

Reporting note: All quotes and attributions come from meeting remarks recorded in the committee transcript. The committee did not produce roll-call vote tallies with named yes/no votes for the FY27 budget motion; minutes record approval by voice vote.