Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical superintendent presents $61.13 million FY27 budget, proposes program closure and position changes

Jill Davis, Superintendent Director of the Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical High School, presented the district's proposed FY27 budget to the School Committee and the public, saying the $61,126,858 proposal is based on the governor's House budget, state per-pupil rate changes and local input from administrators, teachers, parents and partners.

"We received this year $409,888, which was a 1.7% increase from last year to Chapter 70 aid, making our total Chapter 70 aid $38,740,488," Davis said, and announced a proposed overall budget of $61,126,858, a 3.39% increase over the current year.

The presentation traced how changes in state per-pupil rates affect revenue: the vocational per-pupil rate rose to $18,046.96, special-education to $33,245.60 and English-learner funding to $3,983.77. But Davis said a decline in the share of low-income students to 50.87% moved the district from funding category 10 to category 9, costing the district an estimated $756,000 from the drop in headcount and roughly $600,000 from the level change, "all in this is, you know, well over a million dollar hit," she said.

Davis and Michael Knight, the school business administrator, said the district expects LPN-program enrollment to return to about 80 students and anticipates roughly 20 additional students could add about $480,000 to future budgets, but they cautioned those gains are not guaranteed.

On revenue and offsets, Davis said the budget relies on several streams: Chapter 70 aid ($38,740,488), member assessments among the sending towns (a combined assessment of $19,911,370 made up of a $17,424,745 local contribution plus transportation and debt assessments), estimated Chapter 71 transportation aid of $1.5 million, $525,000 from excess and deficiency (reserves), and roughly $450,000 in other school revenue such as Medicaid reimbursements and interest. "This includes minimal local contribution from our cities and towns," Davis said, noting the district is not asking towns for assessments beyond state-minimum levels.

Davis described the district's priorities for the funds: strengthening curriculum and instruction, expanding student supports, modernizing learning environments and equipment, and deepening college- and career-planning and community partnerships. To balance projected costs and negotiated contract increases, she said the district reduced supply, equipment and textbook budgets by $964,000 and trimmed other discretionary lines.

Staff and program changes planned to achieve budget savings include not filling certain retiring positions (an advanced manufacturing instructor and others), eliminating some non-contractual tutors and one HR staff position, and not moving forward with a part-time home monitor and a groundskeeper position. Davis said the district will add one position, a veterinary science instructor, to open a new program.

Davis also announced that, because of retirements and declining enrollment interest over seven years, the district submitted an application to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to close the advanced manufacturing program; she said the closure is expected to take about two years and will not affect students currently enrolled, who will be allowed to complete their programs.

On long-term obligations, staff said bonds from the construction project are staggered with final payments in the 2036—1038 range, with a more notable reduction in debt service when one loan drops off.

Davis cautioned that the planned use of reserves is sustainable only for a limited time: the budget would apply $525,000 of excess and deficiency and a roughly $493,000 offset to operations this year, while continuing a small OPEB contribution. "This will be something that we have to keep an eye on," she said.

The presentation was a public hearing only; Davis said a formal vote on the FY27 budget will occur at the regular School Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. A motion to close the public hearing was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Next steps: the committee will take the FY27 proposal up for a formal vote at its regular meeting; staff said they will continue to monitor enrollment trends, state aid calculations and transportation reimbursements that could alter the district's final assessment totals.