Medford School Committee advances preliminary FY27 budget after debate over staffing and transparency

The Medford School Committee on May 12 voted to advance the superintendent’s preliminary FY27 operating budget, approving a package of three actions that includes the general-fund appropriation request, a stabilization-fund transfer and a set of free-cash requests for capital and maintenance needs.

Superintendent (speaking at the hearing) said the proposal is “a responsible, thoughtful, and authentic representation of the work we have undertaken to support the growth and development of every student in Medford Public Schools.” She framed the plan against rising costs in special education, transportation and general operations and turned the presentation to the district’s budget staff.

Jerry McHugh, the district’s budget analyst, and Finance Director Noel Velez described how the district reduced an initial April proposal—previously characterized as a roughly $7.4 million base increase—to a revised base increase of about $4.0–4.1 million. Velez said the $3.3 million of identified reductions came from deferring some items to FY28, identifying alternative revenue sources (about $1.5 million), limiting new spending requests and a modest number of staff adjustments.

“Part of this was maybe taking a collective thoughtful pause,” Velez said, explaining that several hard-to-fill positions and some requests were deferred pending further review and recruitment.

Among the actions the presenters outlined: moving certain positions that had been charged to revolving funds back to the general fund where required; not adding a technology/network director for FY27; deferring portions of substitute-teacher increases and facilities contract increases; charging select special-education transportation costs to circuit-breaker revenue; seeking state grant funding for the middle-school robotics curriculum; and preparing free-cash requests to the city for capital items including a $250,000 hot-water-tank replacement and roughly $500,000 in interactive panels and AED replacements.

The presenters stressed items that remain mandatory in FY27: funding collective-bargaining salary requirements, mandated special-education supports (including required 1:1 paraprofessionals where applicable), utilities and an expected near-$200,000 increase in heating and electricity costs. The budget also proposes converting a 0.6 elementary band teacher to full time and adding translator capacity for Portuguese, among other school-based priorities.

Committee members pressed for detail. Member Graham raised concerns about eliminating the inclusion specialist (a position added with override funds) and asked how the district will manage without a network director; staff said the inclusion specialist remains a high priority but has been difficult to fill, and the district has hired a network administrator who will start July 1 and will be used to reassess needs.

Member Russo requested greater transparency on positions funded from revolving accounts and asked that future budget publications include an appendix listing each position paid from revolving funds with amount, position title, which revolving account covers it and where that position would sit in the general fund. Staff agreed they could prepare that appendix.

There were several questions about athletics and fine-arts budgets; staff clarified that band transportation is budgeted under fine arts rather than athletics and described a plan to produce clearer line-item reporting for athletics and to reduce informal use of revolving funds as de facto petty cash.

After discussion, a committee member moved to accept the three recommendations presented (the general-fund appropriation request, the stabilization-fund transfer and the free-cash requests) and to prioritize reinstating the inclusion specialist as soon as funding allows. The motion was seconded. On roll call the committee recorded six votes in favor and one abstention; the chair announced the motion carried.

The vote advances the superintendent’s preliminary FY27 package to the next steps in the municipal budgeting process, including submission to the mayor’s office and the city council for consideration of appropriation and free-cash requests. Committee members and staff said they will continue discussions with city officials about closing the remaining budget gap and will return with requested appendices and further details as recruitment and enrollment data evolve.

The committee adjourned following the vote.