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Administrators outline FY27 budget priorities: transportation cuts, rising nutrition costs and a small adult-ed shortfall
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Foley and department leaders presented FY27 budget highlights: proposed cuts (itemized sheet distributed), transportation down about 16% with new electric-bus costs and EPA guidance on battery charge, nutrition program expecting a 5.88% increase driven by food costs, and adult education facing a small state subsidy reduction.
Superintendent Dr. Foley and three department administrators summarized FY27 budget highlights for the Winthrop School Board and invited the public to a community budget forum scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 26, at 4:00 p.m. via Zoom to review the FY27 budget and answer public questions.
Dr. Foley said he had distributed a handout that lists proposed program cuts; he read the figure in the packet as "278,93," and said that excluding capital improvement projects the listed cuts would have pushed expenditure growth well above 7% if not made. He also noted capital-improvement needs that could total in excess of $3 million if included.
Colleen Soua, interim transportation director, presented Article 8 (transportation) and said the transportation budget is down roughly 16% for FY27 because of salary/position reductions and lower contracted services. She flagged offsetting new costs, including increased equipment repair, districtwide electricity (projected ~20% increase), and electric-bus charging needs. Soua said the EPA recommended keeping electric-bus batteries between 25% and 75% charge to preserve battery life and that the district is waiting on EPA guidance about approval to sell and dispose of some buses.
Sam Baldwin, nutrition director, said the nutrition program projects a 5.88% budget increase for FY27, primarily driven by higher food costs (about 4 percentage points of the increase); Baldwin emphasized the program is not requesting local operating funds and expects to serve more meals if enrollment rises.
Josh Farar, adult education director, reported a slight reduction in the state subsidy (on the order of $2,000) and described using unallocated enrichment funds where needed; he also described modest staffing-hour adjustments to manage program costs.
Board members asked follow-up questions about the transportation savings and the electric-bus charging guidance; Soua reiterated the 25%–75% charge recommendation and noted a $7,200 projected increase tied to electric-bus charging needs and other small-line changes. The board agreed to hold a community forum and to review more detailed budget documents in follow-up meetings.
Ending: Administrators will provide additional budget detail at the community forum and subsequent board meetings; staff will supply the itemized cuts sheet and follow up on EPA guidance for electric buses.
