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Winthrop Public Schools proposes FY27 budget emphasizing safety, student achievement and capital repairs
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Folby presented a FY27 budget that would raise spending about 5.2% to fund safety upgrades (including $50,000 for grade-school security cameras), targeted academic interventions, and an increased capital repairs line to $150,000; administrators said the plan is balanced by an estimated $589,382 additional state subsidy tied to increased enrollment.
Superintendent Dr. Folby on Monday presented the Winthrop Public Schools' proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, describing it as 'about more than numbers on a page' and focusing on three priorities: school safety, student achievement and capital improvements.
The administration described the budget as a 5.2 percent increase in expenditures and said it is aligned to the district's three strategic goals. Dr. Folby highlighted planned safety work including the installation of security cameras at the grade school, 'the estimated cost for this project is $50,000,' and detailed capital needs the district has identified: more than $2,000,000 in building repairs districtwide. To address the backlog, the budget requests increasing the capital repairs line from $100,000 to $150,000 and adding $5,000 to the turf reserve (which the superintendent said currently holds $21,000).
On student achievement, district NWEA results were cited as evidence of modest gains: reading proficiency rose from 69% to 73% and math from 64% to 69% since the prior report, though middle school grades remain a concern. The superintendent flagged falling 7th-grade math performance (to 53% above the 40th percentile) and said the district proposes creating a middle-level math interventionist by restructuring a librarian role at no additional cost, and expanding multilingual learner staffing from 1.2 to 1.5 positions.
Dr. Folby told the board the budget includes trade-offs to hold the spending increase to the current level, citing reductions including 1.5 administrative assistant positions in special education, 1.5 special education teacher positions, 1.5 gifted-and-talented positions and reduced transportation director hours. He said the administration budgeted insurance increases at 10% while noting other districts have budgeted 15%.
The administration also reported enrollment gains that improve revenues: 'we will receive an additional $589,382, an additional state subsidy for FY27, driven by an increase in student enrollment,' the superintendent said, and added the district welcomed 36 new students this year, about a 4.5% increase. Board members asked for a compiled cost estimate of items not funded in the proposal; the superintendent agreed to prepare that list for the next meeting.
The administration said detailed budget presentations by individual administrators will begin at the next board meeting and a community forum on March 19 at 6 p.m. at the high school will allow residents to review cost centers and ask questions.
