Quabbin committee recommends $42.35 million FY27 budget after approving cuts that eliminate 21 positions

The Quabbin Regional School Committee voted on May 14 to recommend Budget Proposal No. 4 for fiscal year 2027, a plan totaling $42,352,498 that the administration said reflects a $192,631 reduction and represents a 3.76% increase over FY26. The committee approved the recommendation by roll call; the motion will now be forwarded to the district’s five member towns for final action at their upcoming town meetings.

Superintendent (name not provided in the record) told the committee the budget includes the elimination or reduction of 21 positions, noting, “I want to be clear at this point, we’re reducing 21 positions.” She warned the cuts will change programming and staffing, saying students “are going to have less opportunities” and that the reductions will likely mean increased class sizes.

The administration outlined specific program impacts: fewer physical‑education classes, a reduced number of innovation‑pathway offerings, elimination of a 0.5 reading specialist, cutting a physical‑therapy assistant while retaining a full‑time physical therapist, and a reduction in permanent day‑to‑day substitute positions from eight to four. The superintendent said some reductions were achieved through attrition and retirements, but acknowledged the changes will affect employees who live in the district’s towns.

Committee members pressed the administration for data about student behavior and academic performance to inform the budget discussion. The superintendent presented quarter‑by‑quarter failure counts for high school (for example, Q1: 311 down to 242 in the current year; Q2: 394 down to 294; Q3: 386 down to 239) and said middle‑school failure rates have not shown similar improvement. She described programmatic responses already in place or planned — including expanding seminar classes and a response‑to‑intervention model — and pledged to supply more grade‑level breakdowns and a fuller year‑to‑year comparison of discipline and suspension metrics.

On revenue and outreach, the superintendent said administrators met with several select boards and are sharing a one‑page summary for town meetings so committee members can speak knowledgeably to residents. The administration also reported an upcoming lease that will generate shared revenue with a host town; the district will share a portion of that revenue with the town per the lease proposal.

Budget Proposal No. 4 was presented by the budget subcommittee, which summarized the cuts made since earlier drafts (from an original proposal in the high single digits down to the current 3.76% increase). After questions and discussion, the committee approved the recommendation on a roll‑call vote (members present voted yes). The recommendation will be presented for formal approval or adjustment at each member town’s annual meeting; the administration said it will notify towns and assist with assessment adjustments where necessary.

The superintendent and committee members repeatedly framed the budget choice as difficult and constrained by statewide funding pressures; members urged continued advocacy for rural school aid, circuit breaker funding and transportation support.

The committee adjourned the budget discussion with the motion passed and next steps focused on town‑level votes and additional data the administration will provide.