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Sharon Board of Education approves $69,477 budget reduction after parents urge preservation of student supports
Summary
The Sharon Board of Education voted to reduce its budget by $69,477 on April 28, 2026; parents urged the board not to cut student-facing positions, and the board asked the superintendent to review a less disruptive option in June with a fallback to a cafeteria consolidation plan.
The Sharon Board of Education voted April 28 to reduce the district budget by $69,477 after debating multiple staffing and program cuts and hearing public comments urging preservation of student supports.
At a hybrid special meeting called to order at 4:00 p.m., parent Casey Flanagan urged the board that the Board of Finance’s requested reduction should "not affect students," specifically mentioning the Math Intervention position, and parent Vanessa Bousquet asked the board not to eliminate any positions to preserve consistency for students. Both speakers spoke during the public-comment portion of the meeting.
Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley presented two main options to the board: Option 1 would discontinue the current cafeteria program and have meals provided as a satellite service from HVRHS; Option 4 would reduce the certified payroll line by $69,477 and postpone identification of the precise cuts until June 30 to allow additional planning. Principal Carol Tomkalski presented Option 2, which would reduce the Math Interventionist position, and Option 3, which would remove the Building Substitute and the Library Para positions.
Board member Nancy Hegy Martin moved, seconded by Pam Jarvis, to accept the $69,477 reduction in the budget. During discussion, Terry Vance questioned why multiple options were presented and suggested sending all options to the Board of Finance for reconsideration; Peter Birnbaum argued that "the middle school students need the extra support from COVID." The board recorded a vote on the budget-related motion with five members in favor and two opposed: yea — Philip O'Reilly, Nancy Hegy Martin, Catherine Winburn, Pam Jarvis and Chip Kruger; nay — Terry Vance and Peter Birnbaum. The motion carried.
Separately, the board carried a motion (moved by Chip Kruger and seconded by Nancy Hegy Martin) requesting that Superintendent Brady-Shanley examine Option 4 in June and, if necessary, fall back to Option 1. That motion passed with six yeas (O'Reilly, Hegy Martin, Vance, Winburn, Jarvis and Kruger) and one nay (Birnbaum). The meeting adjourned at 5:01 p.m.
Votes at a glance: poll motion (Birnbaum/Vance) to take a board poll on options — failed (yea: Vance, Birnbaum, Winburn; nay: O'Reilly, Hegy Martin, Jarvis, Kruger). Motion to accept $69,477 reduction (Hegy Martin/Jarvis) — passed (yea 5, nay 2). Motion to direct the superintendent to review Option 4 in June and fallback to Option 1 if needed (Kruger/Hegy Martin) — passed (yea 6, nay 1).
What happens next: Superintendent Brady-Shanley will review Option 4 in June and report back; the board indicated it intends to coordinate with the Board of Finance on the options and the 2026–27 planning timeline.
(Reporting based solely on board minutes and statements made at the April 28 meeting.)
