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Dartmouth School Committee previews $55.3 million FY26 budget, flags staffing shifts
Summary
Superintendent June Saba-Maguire and district finance staff presented a $55.3 million proposed FY26 budget focused on instruction and student supports, citing rising high-needs enrollment and a plan to use school-choice funds and several attrition-covered staffing changes.
Superintendent June Saba-Maguire on Feb. 10 presented a proposed FY26 budget of about $55.3 million to the Dartmouth School Committee, saying the plan is designed to prioritize instruction, student support services and curriculum materials while aligning with the district strategic plan.
"This $55 million plus" budget, Saba-Maguire said, is intended to meet "the evolving needs of students while maintaining fiscal responsibility." The proposal allocates roughly 75% of spending to instruction ($41,382,337) and includes a total budget with Medicaid of $55,353,511.
Business official James Kiely reviewed enrollment and student-need trends that underlie the proposal. Over the last decade, he said, Dartmouth’s high-needs population rose from 29% to more than 43%, the low-income share rose from 17.5% to 30%, and students with disabilities increased from 12.5% to over 21%. Kiely also said Dartmouth’s per-pupil spending remains below the state average in all categories.
Kiely told the Committee the proposal includes additional special-education teaching positions and a Human Resources Director, and that nine positions are affected overall, with seven to be covered through attrition. He said planned uses of school-choice revenue—projected at $1,673,220—include instructional positions, curriculum materials and technology replacement.
Committee members pressed for additional detail. Chair Chris Oliver asked for actual K–8 class-size figures; members requested a slide showing offsets and grant revenues (Circuit Breaker and similar). Kiely agreed to provide those details at the next meeting and noted out-of-district tuition remains a volatile expense, with individual placements ranging from approximately $50,000 to $250,000 plus transportation.
The committee received the budget presentation and scheduled further discussion: more detailed staffing and offset slides will be presented at the March 3 and the second March meeting, with a public hearing on the budget to follow prior to a committee vote.
