The Stoughton School Committee moved forward with a $73,077,362 budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 Tuesday night, a figure that represents an 8.66% increase over the current year and sets the stage for a significant financial confrontation with town leadership. Superintendent Dr. Joseph Baeta warned that adhering to the Town Manager’s recommended 3.5% growth guideline would necessitate cutting roughly $3.4 million from the district, a move he said would result in the loss of 40 to 50 staff positions.

The proposed budget includes 20 new mandated special education positions but zero new roles for general education. Baeta emphasized that because special education services are federally mandated by Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), any required budget cuts would fall exclusively on general education programs, including administration, Advanced Placement classes, and staff not directly tied to special education delivery. If we go with a 3.5% increase, I'm going to ask for three weeks to go through every line item, Baeta told the committee. To catch up on $3.4 million, you're talking about 40 to 50 people. It's not just a trim; it's significant.

A primary driver of the fiscal strain is a shifting landscape in state funding. Baeta noted that the departure of students who had been placed in the local shelter system might negatively impact the state’s foundation budget formula. He argued that the district is being penalized for its success in managing a fluctuating population. I am concerned that the state formula will see a 'drop' in enrollment because students in the shelter system have left, which could hurt us in the foundation budget, Baeta said. We need to say to the legislature: 'We did our job well, and now you're hurting us for the remaining students.'

Member Jenn Sears pushed for clarification on the reality of these cuts, asking if they would truly be restricted to general education. Baeta confirmed that the district has no legal choice but to fund mandated special education minutes. We don't want this to become special ed versus general ed, but that is the reality, he said, adding that he would not recommend a Proposition 2.5 override to bridge the gap.

The committee also examined the complexities of staffing in a district that still maintains neighborhood elementary schools. Currently, 48.6 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions are split between different buildings or are part-time, a logistical challenge Baeta attributed to cost-saving measures for arts and music programs. Staff member Heidi noted that this is common in districts with smaller, local school footprints. In districts that tend to still have neighborhood schools, you see this more often because of the smaller populations and more schools to travel to, she explained.

Transparency regarding the district’s vendor spending became a point of contention when Member Karen Powers requested a detailed breakdown of Contracted Services, seeking specific costs for items such as piano tuning and choral services. Business Manager Julie explained that the town’s Munis accounting software makes such reporting difficult without manual labor. No one in the business office could memorize several thousand vendor names, Julie said, noting that she would have to manually look up every invoice to determine if a vendor was an interpreter or a tuner. Vice Chair Armando Barbosa, drawing on his professional background, noted that such database issues are often permanent if not addressed early. As an engineer, one of the most important things anyone can do in their database is to set it up correctly the first time, Barbosa said. You have problems forever and it's impossible to change once it's not set up properly.

Powers also voiced concerns about the broader impact on Stoughton residents, particularly in light of recent tax pressures. I think the people in town are having a really hard time, Powers said. I think we've asked a lot of them already, and I want to be cognizant of that.

Addressing transportation, Business Manager Julie highlighted the lack of competition for school busing, noting the district received only one bid during its last cycle with First Student. While the district attempts to find small savings—such as picking up workbooks to avoid shipping fees—the fixed costs of transportation continue to climb. Member Sears questioned how often these contracts are reviewed, with Julie explaining that state law limits most to a three-year period with options for extensions.

The committee ultimately decided to advance the budget to the Select Board and Finance Committee to meet the December 31 deadline, with the understanding that a cut list will be developed in January once state aid figures are released. Chair Chris Shannon closed the discussion by thanking the administration for their transparency. I would like to thank the superintendent, the finance office, and our school leaders, Shannon said. I appreciate your careful consideration and intentional questions.

Motion Made by A. Barbosa to vote the proposed budget. Motion Passed (Vote count unrecorded).