Oak Bluffs finance committee hears FY2027 school budgets; principal highlights ELL gains, requests maintenance funding

The Oak Bluffs Finance & Advisory Committee on Jan. 22 reviewed FY2027 budget proposals for the town’s schools, hearing from Oak Bluffs School Principal Jeremy Light, Superintendent Richie Smith and Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Principal Sean Mulvey.

Principal Light asked the committee to approve funding requests that include $7,000 for computer and internet security and $50,185 for general maintenance, citing a school building more than 30 years old and rising costs for electricians and plumbers. He said the proposed Oak Bluffs School budget reflects about a 5.75% increase for FY2027 and that the school is managing staffing levels while maximizing resources. The school also reported strong results from its English Language Learner program: five students exited the program in 2023, 15 in 2024 and 27 in 2025, which Principal Light presented as evidence of improved student outcomes.

Town staff member Mark Friedman told the committee that districtwide transportation costs are increasing, but a town-by-town calculation produced a slight decrease for Oak Bluffs due to fewer runs and an ongoing bus-driver shortage; the savings are being passed along to the town. Committee member Maura McGroarty characterized the school’s proposed increase as modest, citing roughly a 6.2% figure in her remarks and praising the school’s performance relative to other departments.

Superintendent Richie Smith presented the Shared Services budget, which totals $11,292,477 and represents an increase of $810,107 (7.73%). Smith described districtwide initiatives including a Multi-Tiered System of Support, co-teaching models to assist English Language Learners and scaling behavioral supports. He identified several budget reductions (including elimination of contracted human resources services and superintendent longevity pay) and noted a $83,019 (10%) increase in special-education transportation costs.

At the regional level, MVRHS Principal Sean Mulvey and Finance Manager Suzanne Cioffi reviewed a proposed operating budget increase of about 5.17% (assessed increase about 7%). They said $500,000 in research and development funds were used last year to offset the local impact and that $200,000 previously used for placements was removed from the current plan. Mulvey also described transportation logistics—18 island buses and four off-island buses (including two electric)—and said the district plans to reduce the fleet by one vehicle in coming years and delay further electric-bus investment until the technology is more mature. The district noted the legal requirement that all six towns approve any special-education stabilization fund, so creating such a fund would require unanimous municipal consent.

The committee did not take formal votes on the budgets at the meeting; members asked for additional detail and were encouraged to review materials posted by the School Building Committee on its website. The School Building Committee’s work on a proposed new high school (approximately 200,000 square feet, roughly 25% larger than the existing 161,000-square-foot facility) was identified as a continuing point of public interest and review.

The meeting record shows the committee approved prior meeting minutes at the outset and closed without further formal budget votes. The committee adjourned at 7:46 p.m.