Office of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Anna P. Nolin
March 2025-May 19, 2025 Dear Newton Community, School Committee, and City Leadership, Newton Public Schools FY26 Superintendent’s Budget Message Dear Newton Community, School Committee, and City Leadership,
It is my privilege to present the Newton Public Schools (NPS) Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, a comprehensive financial plan shaped by our unwavering commitment to the students, families, and staff we serve. The FY26 budget reflects the values of the community, aligns with our strategic priorities, and acknowledges the complex fiscal reality facing school systems across the Commonwealth. In FY26, NPS will serve approximately 11,700 students across 22 schools, including our integrated preschool, elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as alternative programs and out-of-district placements. The City’s final allocation to NPS is $292.96 million, a 3.65% increase over FY25. While this funding represents a meaningful investment, it does not fully meet our assessed needs. Our original proposal—grounded in enrollment trends, staffing needs, contractual obligations, and student supports—identified a $4.55 million gap. Through responsible reductions, strategic efficiencies, and the use of one-time city funding, we submitted a final balanced budget, though not without difficult trade-offs. This year, NPS faces the seventh consecutive year of declining enrollment. Yet while student numbers shrink modestly, student needs—particularly in the areas of mental health, academic recovery, and special education—are growing more complex. The budget reflects this reality by sustaining and expanding high-leverage services, including new special education programs such as REACH and STRIDE, while continuing to support core instruction across all levels. As always, 87% of the NPS budget is composed of salaries and benefits. In FY26, we face a significant increase in employee benefit costs, including an 11.2% hike in health insurance and a 25% increase in workers’ compensation. At the same time, our collective bargaining obligations necessitate salary growth above the City’s 3.65% allocation. This mismatch in cost drivers versus available revenue is part of a broader structural challenge now facing districts across Massachusetts.
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