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Medford School Committee approves FY27 school budget after staffing and non‑salary adjustments
Summary
The Medford School Committee voted 6–0 (one absent) to approve the FY27 school budget after staff presentations showing how a roughly $963,000 gap was closed through targeted staffing changes, reassignments, non‑renewals, and savings in non‑salary accounts, while restoring some previously cut programs.
The Medford School Committee voted to approve the fiscal year 2027 school budget after hearing a detailed presentation from district finance staff on how the district closed a remaining budget gap.
Budget analyst Jerry McHugh reviewed the numbers presented to the committee, saying the district's preliminary budget had been $89,933,398 and that subsequent city allocations and adjustments produced a smaller variance. McHugh said the administration "ended up moving $962,568" to close the remaining gap through a mix of reassignments, targeted reductions and non‑renewals, and adjustments to non‑salary lines such as waste management and copier leases.
The changes include transferring one special‑education coordinator to circuit breaker funding, reducing three high‑school teaching positions (covered by retirements/non‑renewals), eliminating one vocational program staff position at the high school (to be transferred to a grant‑funded role), and reducing paraprofessional staffing levels with some transfers into vocational grant positions. The district also proposed adding back an art teacher at Medford High School, an inclusion specialist districtwide, and additional funds for professional development and contracted maintenance, funded within the balanced budget package.
Director of Finance Noel Vez and McHugh described additional savings from lower-than‑budgeted increases to non‑unit salary schedules and one‑time grant and earmark funding that helped close the gap. Dr. Galooi noted a $1.75 million grant that will support expansion of vocational shops and related staffing.
Member Russo moved approval of the FY27 budget; Member Rinfeld seconded. A roll‑call vote recorded six votes in the affirmative and one member absent. The committee passed the budget and thanked staff for their work.
Next steps: district staff will proceed with implementing the staffing and budget changes outlined in the presentation and will provide routine updates to the committee as the new fiscal year begins.
