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Rockport superintendent presents largely level budget that trims staff and asks for a 2.9% tax increase
Summary
Superintendent Mark Branca presented an updated FY26 operating budget Jan. 20 that narrows a roughly $1.2 million gap through targeted cuts — including about 13 full‑time‑equivalent reductions — and recommends covering a remaining shortfall from reserves while requesting a 2.9% increase in the town contribution.
Superintendent Mark Branca presented the Rockport Public Schools’ updated operating budget to the school committee on Jan. 20, saying the district used 0‑based budgeting to identify what positions and line items are necessary and which can be reduced. He described a process that began with an initial December proposal showing nearly a 6% increase and roughly a $1.0 million gap and, after further adjustments, an updated gap of about $1.2 million.
Branca said the leadership team and teachers have worked through “must have, nice to have, ought to have” spreadsheets and sharpened estimates. He described the recommended reductions as including the reconfiguration that yields about 13 full‑time‑equivalent reductions (seven teacher FTEs tied to the middle‑school realignment, one retirement and six reductions in force), targeted line‑item cuts and use of reserves to close a small remaining shortfall. “We’re right now, cautiously optimistic about that number,” Branca said, noting the district’s reserves total about $2,020,000 and recommending using reserves to cover the roughly $36,900 remaining gap after reductions.
Teacher union leaders urged caution. Stacy Twambley, co‑president of the Rockport Teachers Association, told the committee the proposed cuts risked harming classroom instruction and relationships. “We feel strongly that with the cuts, it is also important to express, honor, and acknowledge the massive losses that have been made,” Twambley said, warning that losing paraprofessionals and certified teachers can increase behavioral needs, reduce differentiated instruction and weaken continuity for students.
Administrators and teachers highlighted programmatic priorities the budget would preserve or expand: a proposed intensive learning program to serve a targeted population locally, continued partnership with Project Lead the Way for computer science and engineering, a strengthened curriculum‑review cycle, and a proposed maintenance position to address aging facilities. Branca said some line‑item adjustments include reducing the professional‑development substitute line to zero (with coverage shifted to the overall substitute budget), lowering the special‑education substitute allocation from $10,000 to $7,500, reducing Medicaid processing fees from $2,500 to $2,000 and trimming outside evaluation funding from $330,000 to $320,000.
Committee members acknowledged the human impact of reducing positions and said the budget’s professional‑development and MTSS (multi‑tiered systems of support) proposals could help with transitions. Chair Kathy Riley encouraged continued public comment and community input as the committee refines the budget.
Next steps: administration said a PDF draft of the full budget book will be delivered to committee members the Monday after the meeting and a public presentation and vote on the budget is scheduled for Feb. 5, with the town meeting floor review set for April 5.
