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School committee hears $871,000 FY25 underrun, members warn savings came from unfilled positions
Summary
The Northbridge School Committee reviewed fiscal 2025 results showing about $871,000 in underruns—largely from unfilled positions—and discussed implications for staffing, classroom support and FY26 projections that roll those balances forward.
The Northbridge School Committee on Oct. 14 received a year‑end financial recap showing the district spent about $31.4 million in fiscal 2025, roughly $871,000 (2.7%) less than the $32.3 million originally budgeted.
Jessica (staff member S8), who presented the FY25 and FY26 figures, told the committee that “of that $871,000 that came in under budget, $744,000 of that was due to salaries,” and that much of the salary underrun resulted from budgeted positions that remained vacant. She said transportation costs rose and utilities came in under budget because energy usage was lower and net‑metering credits were higher than projected. Revolver (enterprise) account balances rose by about $631,000 to $3.6 million at June 30, 2025, Jessica said, and early fiscal‑year projections for FY26 currently show a modest decrease in total expenditures compared with the originally approved FY26 budget once the FY25 balance is carried forward.
Committee members pressed for context about how the savings were achieved and their impact in classrooms. Heather Alden (committee member S3) said the headline number masks operational harm. “That is lack of support for our kids, lack of support for our staff,” she said, arguing vacant positions and reorganizations have left teachers overworked and class sizes larger. Other members and the superintendent raised pending requests for additional instructional aides and expanded English‑learner services as enrollment and student needs change.
Jessica detailed drivers of the FY25 variance: $744,000 in net salary underruns (vacancies, unpaid leaves, retirements and lane changes), a $132,000 net increase in transportation after an approved transfer from utilities at a prior meeting, decreased utility consumption (from 2.8 million budgeted kilowatt‑hours to ~2.6M used) and higher net‑metering credits attributable to nearby town solar installations. She also said some revenue timing (prepayments of tuition and grants) and higher circuit‑breaker reimbursements contributed to the improved revolver balance.
Superintendent McHenry (S7) and building administrators flagged program and staffing pressures the committee should expect to see in coming months, including requests from the elementary school for additional instructional aides and an open school‑nurse‑leader position the district is still recruiting for. McHenry said the district has identified eight IA requests currently in the queue and noted translation costs rose with an influx of newcomers speaking multiple languages.
The committee did not take a formal fiscal vote other than routine consent items; members asked staff to continue refining FY26 projections for presentation at future meetings and to return specific requests for additional IA and EL staffing with cost estimates.
The committee plans to review school‑level improvement plans in November for attendance and intervention strategies, and staff indicated they will continue updating budget projections as negotiated contracts and winter utility bills become known.
