In preparing this budget, we carefully analyzed enrollment trends, staffing needs, and operational efficiencies. We prioritized student-centered investments, including essential special education programming, maintaining critical student support services, and upholding commitments made in prior strategic planning efforts. However, the constraints of this budget necessitate difficult trade-offs. Class sizes will remain in keeping with the level they have been over the past many years–well within the district’s operational size guidance. Class sizes will increase slightly in some elementary schools, but out of our 244 elementary classrooms only four classes will rise to 25 students; reductions in certain areas is unavoidable given the rise in many cost sectors. Moreover, our reliance on the Educational Stabilization Account—a temporary funding source—underscores the need for a long-term sustainable funding strategy. We have also continued our commitment to operational efficiency and fiscal responsibility. Over the last two years, the district has generated nearly $2.2 million in efficiencies and incremental revenue. These include increased fee collection, adjusted transportation policies, expanded tuition-bearing programs, and redeployments of staff and resources. Yet even with these efforts, the FY26 budget relies on non-recurring funds—such as Circuit Breaker carryforward and one- time city contributions in the below listed amounts:
One Time use of Free Cash to lower Health Insurance by $1,300,000
$1,300,000
One Time use of Free Cash to lower departmental expenses
$945,612
One Time use of Free Cash to lower Charter Maintenance expenses
$1,100,000
Additional Carry Forward needed beyond $3 M for CB Carryforward
350,000
Total
$3,695,612
These added amounts of money are needed to preserve essential services. These practices, while necessary for this year, are not sustainable. As noted above, we are also grateful for the Educational Stabilization Fund—$4.25 million of which supports FY26 operations. However, we must be clear-eyed: this fund is a temporary measure and rests on a fund that currently has over $21M for school use only. Once depleted, Newton will again face a substantial structural deficit unless long-term funding solutions are pursued. The total amount of money used to fund Newton Schools outside of the city’s operational allocation is, therefore: $7,945,612–the amount which I recommend be added to the base allocation for Newton Schools operations in order to fund a level-services budget I recommended for FY26.
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