Norwell Schools Face Potential $2.5 Million Budget Cut if Override Fails
School Committee presents stark choices between 7.43% increase or elimination of 24 positions and program cuts
NORWELL - March 31 - The Norwell School Committee presents a proposed FY26 budget with a 7.43% increase, but warns of significant cuts to staff and programs if a town override doesn't pass at the May 5 town meeting and subsequent ballot vote.
Superintendent Matthew Keegan outlines the stark difference between the two budget scenarios during the March 31 School Committee meeting. The proposed budget of $35,879,542 represents a $2,481,480 increase over last year.
"The non-override budget basically takes the 2.5% increase in all the town receipts, fees, and everything else, and pays for health insurance, pension obligations, other retirement things," Keegan explains. "It's the fixed costs on the town, and no department will get any dollars and maybe even cut beyond what they had this year."
If the override fails, the school budget remains at $33,298,062, forcing the elimination of 24 staff positions and significant program cuts across all schools.
"We will not meet our contractual obligations, so we will be forced to cut," Keegan says.
The cuts would impact every level of the school system. At the high school, positions on the chopping block include one physical education teacher, one technology/tech ed teacher, one English teacher, one world language teacher, a math tutor aide, a bridge room aide, and one secretary.
Additionally, nine freshman teams and six JV teams would be eliminated, affecting cheerleading, volleyball, field hockey, soccer, basketball, ice hockey, wrestling, baseball, lacrosse, softball, and tennis.
Middle school cuts would include a PE teacher, a math support position, and a secretary position. Elementary schools would lose two librarians, two literacy specialists, two classroom teachers, and four building-based aides.
"Student supplies, which we have been supplying for the last several years, will be cut, so families will need to provide all student supplies for their children," Keegan adds.
District-wide cuts would include the inclusion specialist, fifth nurse, and assistant special education director positions. Supplies and materials would see a 10% reduction across the board, and maintenance projects would be curtailed.
"We're going to be cutting back on those. We have to acknowledge that if something breaks and something's a problem, we're going to have to look for an emergency fund transfer because we can't necessarily anticipate it," Keegan says.
The technology cycle would also be affected, with older technology remaining in place. Elementary iPads and the high school computer replacement cycle for teachers would be cut.
"We will not do the new cycle of iPads for the elementary school, leaving them vulnerable to not being able to use their digital stuff or potentially testing, depending upon iOS," Keegan explains.
Special education out-of-district tuitions would only be funded with an additional $250,000 instead of the $500,000 requested, putting the district "on a razor's edge for next year," according to Keegan.
The proposed budget increase of 7.43% includes several key areas. The "other" category shows the largest increase at 12.67%, with district special education tuitions up 25%. Salaries show a smaller percentage increase but still represent a significant dollar amount.
If approved, the budget would add a fifth nurse, a special education program position, a high school transition room aide, a math tutor, and potentially a business teacher. The budget also includes funding for technology cycles, curriculum cycles, and maintenance projects.
School Committee Chair Christina Kane emphasizes that the committee members are volunteers who spend hundreds of hours working on behalf of the town.
"We're not making these decisions carelessly. We're doing it with an enormous amount of consideration and heart and thought," Kane says. "These are your fellow community members who are spending hundreds of hours to try to do the right thing and help our town be a great place."
The override question will appear on the May 17 town election ballot. Before then, the School Committee plans several informational meetings, including PTO meetings at both elementary schools on April 2, the middle school on April 3, and the high school on April 8.
The town also hosts public forums on April 8, 16, and 30, and May 1. Town meeting begins May 5 and may continue on May 6 and 8 if needed.
"Regardless of what happens at the town meeting, all decisions are final at the ballot on the 17th," Keegan notes.
The School Committee unanimously approves the proposed budget of $35,879,542 for insertion in the May 5 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.