Stoughton school officials are bracing for a precarious fiscal future as Superintendent Dr. Joseph Baeta warned of a looming $1.5 million budget cliff driven by the expiration of federal grants and the disappearance of state shelter funding. During a Tuesday night meeting, the School Committee reviewed a sobering set of preliminary FY27 projections that include a 4% rise in health insurance, an 8% jump in liability costs, and a 5% increase for the Norfolk County retirement system. While the town has recommended a 3.98% budgetary increase, school leaders expressed deep concern over the loss of Title I and Title IV funds, which have historically served as flexible safety nets for the district.

Superintendent Baeta emphasized that the financial pressure is compounded by the cessation of state shelter money, noting that fewer than five students remain in local shelters as others have moved out of the district. Business Manager Jonathan Ford highlighted the severity of the federal reductions, stating that Title I, our largest grant, is looking at a 20% reduction. Beyond grant losses, the district is grappling with a volatile special education market where private school tuition increases now range between $25,000 and $100,000 per student. Baeta noted that while the district is utilizing circuit breaker funds for the coming year, those reserves are being stretched thin as special education costs outpace state reimbursement thresholds.

The committee also explored ways to improve pedestrian safety by piggybacking on the town’s ongoing $4.75 million infrastructure push. As crews tear up roads for 1940s-era water main and sewer replacements, Baeta advocated for a coordinated effort to install sidewalks. As roads are being worked on for water and sewer, we should look at sidewalks for safety and recreation, Baeta said, asking the board for consensus to approach the town regarding the repaving projects. Member Karen Powers voiced strong support for the initiative, noting that everyone knows in Stoughton that we need more sidewalks. The people of Young's Way can attest to that. It benefits the entire town, not just students. Vice Chair Armando Barbosa agreed, adding that it’s important for everyone to commute safely. We are a commuter town with the rail.

The financial conversation extended into public comment, where resident David Lurie urged the committee to secure a seat at the table during the drafting of the town’s new financial policies following the Collins Report. Lurie noted that Town Meeting authorized the policy development two and a half years ago and argued that the schools must protect their interests. The School Committee should have its own recommendations to insert, like a floor for net school spending, Lurie said, suggesting that debt service and reserve policies should not be handled in a silo by the municipal side. Chair Chris Shannon signaled agreement with the importance of the issue, suggesting the committee put the financial policy statement on the agenda for the next meeting.

Amid the fiscal warnings, the committee received an upbeat presentation from Dawe School Principal Rob Cancieri and Assistant Principal Mrs. Thibault regarding social-emotional learning and school culture. Cancieri detailed a leadership style centered on visibility, from daily morning announcement slideshows to end-of-day dance parties. I prioritize visibility, Cancieri said. Every morning at 8:00, I am at the crosswalk to greet almost 400 kids, and I'm there to say goodbye. The school’s efforts appear to be yielding tangible results, with accountability scores from the Department of Education rising from the 36th to the 61st percentile since 2018. Mrs. Thibault highlighted a 95.1% attendance rate, which exceeds both district and state averages, and credited inclusive events like Diversity at the Dawe for fostering community. Member Jillian Distefano praised the staff, noting, I was really impressed. You're doing so much and I appreciate everything you do for the school.

Superintendent Baeta used the Dawe presentation to signal a future budget priority, stating his intent to advocate for full-time assistant principals at the elementary level. He praised Cancieri for practicing the Three Vs of leadership—visibility with staff, students, and the community—which he said sends a powerful message of trust. The committee also took a moment to hear from student representative Faith, who celebrated the recent gold medal win by the high school band, percussion, and color guard, and looked ahead to the upcoming Powder Puff game against Canton. Our band, percussion, and color guard recently won a gold medal, Faith reported, noting the high level of senior class engagement in year-end projects.

In administrative action, the board addressed the upcoming Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) annual meeting. The committee reviewed several pending resolutions, including a proposal to remove BMI testing from schools and an effort to increase the Special Education Reserve Fund cap from 2% to a higher percentage of net school spending to keep pace with rising tuitions. After Vice Chair Barbosa indicated he would attend only to vote, Member Distefano offered to serve as the formal delegate. Motion Made by A. Barbosa to appoint Jillian Distefano as the MASC delegate. Motion Passed (5-0-0).

The meeting concluded with a review of the School Committee’s own line-item budget. Baeta reported that the FY25 budget was slightly overspent due to unanticipated public bid advertisements, but noted that the primary fixed cost remains the annual MASC dues of nearly $7,000. Looking toward community events, Chair Shannon announced that the district will honor graduates William Coulter (Class of 1969) and Frederick Richard (Class of 2022) on October 30 for their extraordinary professional accomplishments. He also reminded residents of the upcoming Pumpkin Smash on November 8, an eco-friendly disposal event for Halloween leftovers.