Conclusion: The Resolution and Achievement of FY27 Budget Season Our mayor offered the district a 5.75% increase over last year’s budget and the school committee directed me to work within that number AND to provide one step toward our THRIVE 2030 strategic plan goals relating to our academic program. The School Committee’s approved 5.75% increase represents less than the required amount to preserve Newton’s current programs and services and move forward the implementation of expected new programs long desired by the district. This budget forced cuts, staffing reductions in the magnitude of $3.8M including: cuts in the following areas: • Diversity, equity and inclusion coordination, • Sustainability and long-range planning coordination, • Mental and behavioral health and services coordination and consultation, • Business office, ELL curriculum coordination and HR office staffing • Custodial and administrative assistant units. The adoption of the mayor’s allocation also meant that in order to balance the budget, the district must:
• use additional revolving account revenues, one time city funding and • assume increased risk related to actual cost vs. projected cost.
While I understand the fiscal finality of this allocation offer and why the school committee had to adopt it, I do not recommend it as the budget required to serve our children best. I do understand that we are one part of a larger Newton ecosystem of needs across the city and this budget is historic in its allocation to the students of Newton. Despite these challenges, this budget achieves the following for our students: • Adds time to the elementary Wednesday school day schedule to ensure a full-seated lunch period of 20 minutes on half days • Places the Calculus project funding partially within the district operating budget (previously grant funded) • Adds math summer school programming for students below grade-level • adds team and special education program teachers to the F.A. Day and Bigelow Middle schools and • Preserves the tools and staffing needed to run our Yondr cell phone pouch program at our middle schools (to comply with Newton and likely state policy on bell-to-bell bans on student personal devices in schools). • Preserves class sizes all K-8 schools at the level of the FY 26 budget. While reductions had to be made to fit into this budget allocation, we prioritized not cutting or impacting the direct student experience, and we have been able to achieve that. This proposal balances the reality of City finances with the non-negotiable mission of providing a rigorous learning environment where every student is known, challenged, and supported.
Dr. Anna Nolin Superintendent and Head Teacher
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