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Mashby School Committee holds public hearing on superintendent's FY2026 budget request of roughly $26.4 million
Summary
The Mashby School Committee opened and closed a public hearing on Jan. 8 on the interim superintendent's FY2026 recommended budget, which requests $26,394,832 from the town and reflects a 4.81% increase on the presented base; the administration emphasized personnel and special-education costs as the primary drivers and listed a $130,000 capital ask subject to the Capital Improvement Committee.
The Mashby School Committee on Jan. 8 held a public hearing on the interim superintendent's recommended fiscal year 2026 budget, asking the town for $26,394,832 and presenting an overall requested increase of $1,210,479, or about 4.81%.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Thompson presented the proposal to the committee and the public, saying the recommended budget "ensures that all of our legal and contractual mandates are met" and continues to prioritize technology, curriculum and student social-emotional supports. He described the district's base request as a multistage calculation that, after subtracting school-choice offsets and pending capital approvals, yields the town ask of $26,394,832.
Why it matters: personnel costs make up the majority of the district's spending. Dr. Thompson told the committee that salaries and benefits account for roughly 78'80% of the budget and that the proposed plan includes no net new budgeted positions; instead, some positions were realigned from the high school to elementary schools to match student needs.
Key drivers and figures from the presentation: - Town ask: $26,394,832 (presented by the superintendent). - Overall requested increase: $1,210,479 (reported as a 4.81% increase on the requested base in the presentation). - School-choice fund floor maintained at $250,000 as an emergency reserve. - Capital Improvement Committee requests totaling roughly $130,000, including $50,000 for Chromebooks, $30,000 for wireless upgrades, firewall/cybersecurity replacement, and approximately $20,000 for kitchen/food-service equipment.
On specific budget lines, Dr. Thompson said special-education costs are rising in line with student needs (an increase in district tuitions and out-of-district placements), and the athletics budget showed only modest changes. He described an internal staffing realignment that reduced the high school personnel line while increasing elementary staffing, resulting in no net increase in headcount for FY2026.
Committee members asked how additional Chapter 70 (state) aid would be handled. The administration replied that Chapter 70 funds flow to the town and local practice determines allocation; additional state funds would appear in the town's general pot and local policy would guide distribution to schools.
Next steps: The Capital Improvement Committee must decide whether to approve the capital asks (the presentation listed specific projects and dollar amounts). Following that review, the school committee is scheduled to vote on the FY2026 budget on Jan. 22; if adopted, the school committee's recommended budget will be transmitted to the town manager and later presented to the finance committee and then town meeting in May.
The public hearing was opened and closed by recorded motions; the transcript records roll-call "yes" votes from members present.
