Malden School Committee adopts FY27 budget with new special-education staffing

The Malden School Committee voted to adopt the fiscal year 2027 budget after a Finance Subcommittee review and public hearing, the committee chair announced on June 1.

Finance staff reported the district’s required net school spending for FY27 at approximately $134,394,726, with projected Chapter 70 aid near $70 million and a projected required local contribution around $64 million. The budget remains subject to the state legislature’s final approval, administration said.

Committee members highlighted that the biggest cost increases in the proposed budget come from contractual obligations, out-of-district tuition, special-education transportation and contracted services. The administration proposed targeted staffing additions including an additional program manager for specialized instruction, a science coach for Malden High School and an additional STEM coach.

Finance Director Tony Mertz explained that a large year-over-year increase in out-of-district tuition spending reflected both more placements outside the district and vendor price increases governed by the state’s OSD pricing rules. "A few privates went up as high as 14 percent, and one had a 30 percent increase tied to a program review," he told the committee.

Members also asked about digital literacy and advanced-coursework metrics; administration said a coding error had inflated prior advanced-coursework numbers and that the district will align course codes and pursue K–12 digital literacy work in the strategic plan.

The motion to adopt the FY27 budget was moved by Ms. Spadafora, seconded and approved on roll call.

What happens next: The administration will continue implementation planning for the new staffing lines and report back on contract and placement cost drivers.