School Committee Reverses Course, Votes for Real Needs Budget

Duxbury officials grapple with potential town-wide override amid funding shortfalls

DUXBURY - December 11 - The Duxbury School Committee voted Dec. 11 to support the superintendent's "real needs" budget of $46,931,020 for fiscal year 2026, reversing their previous vote for a level-funded budget. The decision comes as town officials discuss a potential override to address funding shortfalls across multiple departments.

Committee member Kellie Bresnehan initiated the revote, stating, "I take full responsibility for my vote. But I feel it was rendered due to misleading information."

The committee's initial vote for a level-funded budget plus 2.5% increase had sparked confusion and criticism from community members. James Zysk, a resident who spoke during public comment, urged the committee to "state concretely and on the public record its unequivocal support for the real needs school budget as presented by the superintendent."

Superintendent Danielle Klingaman emphasized the impact of potential budget cuts on staff morale. "The 24.8 school staff members whose positions are at risk must come to school every day, keep a smile on their faces and stand before our students, while they are worrying about losing their jobs," she said.

Committee members expressed frustration with the budget process and lack of transparency. Kellie Bresnehan said, "Our meetings are public business meetings, and all information to be shared and discussed as a body. The town finance committee did not vote a town budget prior to a school committee budget vote."

Committee member Matt Gambino presented data showing that other town departments are also requesting significant budget increases. He noted that the town manager's recommendation approves 99.6% of the town's overall budget requests.

"We are consistent. We are not inconsistent," Gambino said comparing the Town Manager’s budget to the Superintendent’s. "We should not be trying to fritter away at this budget. Dr. Klingaman's counterpart did not fritter away at this budget, and he shouldn't fritter away at this budget."

“It is not irresponsible. It is not mismanagement. It's nothing like that. It's everything that she's been telling us for the last month and a half,” Gambino added.

The committee's vote to support the real needs budget does not guarantee funding. The town is considering a potential override to address budget shortfalls across departments. The select board must first recommend an override article for the town meeting warrant.

Committee Vice-Chair Laurel Deacon emphasized the need for community outreach and education about the budget process. "We need to invite the people who don't [support an override]. The people who are concerned about their finances or maybe for some reason don't believe that the schools are being transparent or honest about resource allocation, or they have questions about that," she said.

Superintendent Klingaman outlined plans to make budget information more accessible to the public. "We invite anyone who's been paying attention, who's attended any of our meetings, if there's information that we can make more accessible into a social media post or something smaller that busy people can see, we're happy to do so," she said.

The committee discussed the importance of reaching beyond the school community to build support for a potential override. Members acknowledged the need to address concerns about sustainability and long-term financial planning.

"I think sustainability is important too," Deacon said. "I hope every department does not come back in two years and say, well, we thought it would last and it didn't."

The school committee's vote follows a shift in the town's budget discussions. As Duxbury officials work to finalize budget proposals and consider an override, the focus now turns to community education and building support for addressing the town's financial needs.

Full meeting available via Duxbury Public Schools and The Local Seen.