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Westborough schools propose 4.17% increase; superintendent warns of special‑education and transportation cost pressures
Summary
Superintendent Allison Borchers presented the school department’s FY27 ‘level‑services’ budget requesting a $2.94 million (4.17%) increase from the town, citing special‑education tuition and out‑of‑district transportation as the largest drivers and noting planned staff reductions totaling roughly $400,000.
Allison Borchers, Westborough Public Schools superintendent, presented the school district’s proposed FY27 budget at the joint budget summit, asking the town for roughly a $2.94 million (4.17%) increase to maintain level services. Borchers said the request includes staffing reductions of roughly $400,000 and emphasized the district’s priority to preserve programming, maintain class‑size guidelines and meet contractual obligations.
Borchers highlighted two structural drivers behind the request: rapidly rising out‑of‑district special‑education tuition and transportation costs. She told the meeting that the district currently serves roughly 31 students in expensive out‑of‑district placements and that tuition inflation set by state mechanisms has driven large year‑to‑year increases. ‘‘Out‑of‑district tuition is an expensive way to do education,’’ she said, noting the district’s ongoing work to expand in‑district programming and to advocate for higher state circuit‑breaker reimbursement levels.
Transportation costs were the second major pressure; Borchers said the district is in year two of a new bus contract and that overall per‑student transportation spending has risen significantly in recent years. She also reminded the boards that about 80% of the school budget funds personnel (salaries and benefits), and that contract settlements, step and lane adjustments and special‑education staffing make the budget sensitive to negotiated outcomes.
Borchers also outlined capital items the school committee expects to place on the warrant, including high‑school roof work and a Hastings playground request; she said the committee and district leaders are coordinating with the town on timing and financing options.
What’s next: The school budget as presented will be part of the town manager’s package and go before March town meeting for votes on the requested appropriation and the committee’s capital warrant articles.
