The Comprehensive Budget Binder for the Superintendent's Preliminary Budget for FY2026.
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District Fiscal Year 2026 Presented February 8, 2025
Peter Light Superintendent of Schools
FY26 Binder Table of Contents
Acton-Boxborough Regional Schools FY26 Budget Binder Table of Contents February 8, 2025
Section 1
1 Superintendent's Message
a. Superintendent's Budget Memo b. FY26 Preliminary Budget Slides (January 30, 2025)
Section 2
2 Financial Summary and Analyses a. Director of Finance & Operations Memo b. FY2026 Recommended Budget Summary - 1. Budget Overview
2. Summary of Budget Funding Sources 3. Significant FY2025 Budget Changes
4. Comparative Expenditure Summary by Admin Category 5. Comparative Expenditure Summary by Character Code 6. 5-Year Summary of Budgeted Expenditures c. Selected Budget Analyses - 1. Comparative Analysis of Health Insurance Costs 2. Comparative Analysis of Tuition Costs and Circuit Breaker Reserve 3. Future Debt Obligations (District and Towns) d. District Reserve Analysis e. Regional Assessment Information - 1. Calculation of FY2026 Member Assessments 2. Assessments Comparison with Prior Year; Historical Data f. Other Supporting Information - 1. Chapter 70 Information
2. ALG and BLF Financial Models 3. Complete Line Item Budget
Section 3
3 a. Deputy Superintendent Memo b. Staff Positions Reductions and Additions c. Class Size History d. Enrollment Update
Section 4
4 A-B Regional High School a. Principal's Memo - FY25 Goals, FY26 Priorities, Budget Summary and Impact b. Line Item Budget and FTE Information 5 RJ Grey Junior High School a. Principal's Memo - FY25 Goals, FY26 Priorities, Budget Summary and Impact b. Line Item Budget and FTE Information 6 Blanchard Elementary a. Principal's Memo - FY25 Goals, FY26 Priorities, Budget Summary and Impact b. Line Item Budget and FTE Information 7 Conant Elementary a. Principal's Memo - FY25 Goals, FY26 Priorities, Budget Summary and Impact b. Line Item Budget and FTE Information
FY26 Binder Table of Contents
8 Douglas Elementary a. Principal's Memo - FY25 Goals, FY26 Priorities, Budget Summary and Impact b. Line Item Budget and FTE Information 9 Gates Elementary a. Principal's Memo - FY25 Goals, FY26 Priorities, Budget Summary and Impact b. Line Item Budget and FTE Information 10 McCarthy-Towne Elementary a. Principal's Memo - FY25 Goals, FY26 Priorities, Budget Summary and Impact b. Line Item Budget and FTE Information 11 Merriam Elementary a. Principal's Memo - FY25 Goals, FY26 Priorities, Budget Summary and Impact b. Line Item Budget and FTE Information
Section 5
12 Teaching & Learning -
1. Cover Page Summary 2. Org Chart 3. Line Item Budget and FTE Information b. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 1. Cover Page Summary 2. Org Chart 3. Line Item Budget and FTE Information c. Social Emotional Learning 1. Cover Page Summary
d. Educational Technology - 1. Departmental Overview 2. Org Chart 3. Line Item Budget and FTE Information e. Multilingual Learning (formerly English Language Learning) 1. Departmental Overview f. Music 1. Departmental Overview 2. Line Item Budget and FTE Information g. Art Administrative Budget 1. Departmental Overview 2. Line Item Budget and FTE Information h. Health/Physical Education Administrative Budget 1. Departmental Overview 2. Line Item Budget and FTE Information
Section 6
13 a. Special Education & Support Services 1. Departmental Overview 2. Org Chart
3. Line Item Budget and FTE Information b. Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program 1. Principal's Memo - FY25 Goals, FY26 Priorities, Budget Summary and Impact c. Counseling
FY26 Binder Table of Contents
1. Departmental Overview d. Nursing Administrative Budget 1. Departmental Overview 2. Line Item Budget and FTE Information
Section 7
14 District Departments
a. Superintendent/School Committee - 2. Org Chart 3. Line Item Budget and FTE Information b. Human Resources 1. Departmental Overview 2. Org Chart 3. Line Item Budget and FTE Information c. Finance 1. Departmental Overview 2. Org Chart 3. Line Item Budget and FTE Information d. Facilities 1. Departmental Overview 2. Org Chart 3. Line Item Budget and FTE Information e. Transportation 1. Departmental Overview 2. Org Chart
Section 8
15 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Planning Capital Projects Overview & Analysis
Section 9
16 Athletics
a. Department Overview b. Line Item Budget and FTE Information c. Athletics Revolving d. Coaching Efficiency Sheet
Section 10
17 Analyses of Fees
a. Kindergarten Tuition b. Athletic Fees, Activities, Parking Fee (HS) c. Pre-Kindergarten
Section 11
18 Special (Revolving Fund) Accounts a. Community Education 1. Department Overview 2. Org Chart 3. Revolving Account Overview b. Food Services 1. Department Overview 2. Revolving Account Overview c. Other Revolving
1. School Choice, Athletics, Circuit Breaker 2. All Day Kindergarten, PACE, Preschool
FY26 Binder Table of Contents
3. Revolving Comparative Fund Balance
Section 12
19 Appendices:
a. Enrollment and Class Size Reports b. ABRSD FY'24 Audited Financial Statements c. ABRSD Regional Agreement July 1, 2014
Section 1: Superintendent’s Message
FY2026 Superintendent’s Preliminary Budget
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FY2026 Superintendent’s Preliminary Budget
Peter J. Light Superintendent of Schools
To:
Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee
From: Date:
Peter Light, Superintendent of Schools
January 28, 2025
RE:
FY2026 Superintendent’s Preliminary Budget Message
Development of the FY26 Budget began with enormous gratitude to the residents of Acton and Boxborough for supporting the school’s significant budget increase last year. It also came with an understanding that there are limits to the two communities’ resources. We now have a greater understanding that the budgetary challenges of the last three years appear to be part of a longer-term state and national funding pattern for education. Despite the communities having supported a significant increase in the school budget last year, the current reality is that expenses continue to outpace revenues. We believe this trend will continue for at least several years - unless the state revises its funding formula. We also acknowledge in the FY26 budget that the district enrollment has declined by approximately 600 students since regionalization and current projections indicate a continued enrollment decline of an additional 300 students over the next 8 years. While enrollment has declined over the last 8 years, we have a greater total number of professional staff than when the district fully regionalized. This is explained by a significant increase in the number of support staff (special education, multilingual education, and intervention staff) that parallels increases in our high-needs student population. The enrollment reality signals a need to continue “right-sizing” our general education staff to the enrollment of the schools as we ensure adequate support for students with diverse needs. Budget Guidelines The school committee tasked the administration with a series of budget guidelines, and the FY26 preliminary budget reflects many of these. That said, it is not possible to meet all of the school committee’s educational goals within the established revenue limits. For example, there is no proposed reduction in Kindergarten tuition, and we have been unable to fund all of our Tier 2 & 3 supports at current levels.
The Budget Guidelines as adopted by the school committee are:
The school committee recognizes the significant contributions of Acton and Boxborough Taxpayers to funding our schools. As such, the school committee directs the administration to balance the needs of our students, staff, and taxpayers within the following budget guidelines: The school committee expects the administration to prioritize funding to ensure students have access to a robust, tiered system of supports for their: ● Social-emotional, mental, and behavioral health needs ● Academic needs ● Multilingual services ● Special Education supports and services
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Within an overall budget increase of no greater than 3%*, a Boxborough assessment of less than 6%, and $0 of Excess and Deficiency use:
● Increase Capital Funding in order to ensure adequate funding for necessary short and long-term facilities needs. ● Plan for obligations including Cost of Contracts (steps, lanes, and Cost of Living Adjustment - COLA), Retirement Contributions, Health Insurance Premiums, and any remaining runout claims from the Acton Health Insurance Trust. ● Reduce Tuition for Kindergarten families. ● Budget for general education class sizes within established school committee guidelines. The rationale for proposed exceptions to this should be made clear by the administration. ○ Kindergarten 18-20 students ○ Grades 1-3 20-22 students ○ Grades 4-6 22-24 students ○ Grades 7-12 22-24 students ● Incorporate prioritized recommendations from the Elementary Budget Task Force ● Utilize staff attrition (retirements and resignations), whenever possible to reduce staffing levels in the event budget reductions are necessary. Preliminary Budget and Assessments The Superintendent’s Preliminary Budget for FY26 totals $116,135,080 and represents a 3.00% increase from FY25. The preliminary assessments for the towns are:
Acton - $79,835,435 (0.97%) Boxborough - $16,798,204 (5.25%)
The FY26 Budget was built upon a modified base budget for FY25. The modified base reduced excluded debt from the JHS/HS which was paid off in FY25, and one-time funds from the current operating budget before calculating the increase for FY25. Excluded debt was removed from the base calculation for FY25 because it also represents a proportionate decrease in revenue for both towns. One time funds were removed from the budget by agreement with the towns when the school committee voted on a revised budget after town meetings last year. These one time funds were largely to pay run-out claims from the health insurance trust, with a small amount paying for an elementary budget study, and short-term debt premium.
Details for FY25 Base Budget calculation are:
$116,091,265 FY25 Budget (Revised - 06/2024) - $1,627,600 Reduce excluded debt from JHS and SHS renovations - $1,711,160 Reduce one time funds from FY25 (E&D, BAN Revenue) $112,752,505 FY25 Base Budget used for calculating 3% increase $3,382,575 3% Increase on “Base” Budget $116,135,080 FY26 School Committee Budget Guideline
To develop engaged, well-balanced learners through collaborative, caring relationships. WELLNESS • EQUITY • ENGAGEMENT
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A Balancing Act The efficient use of resources and the most effective use of resources are not necessarily synonymous. Creating a budget that meets our students’ needs within our available resources requires careful consideration of both efficiency and effectiveness. Reductions over the last three years have strained elements within our system. As we continue to maximize the efficient use of our resources to best serve as many students as possible, we understand that many of our educators feel they are not as effective as they want to be and are being stretched thin. The budget presented works to maximize the use of our resources, but cannot maintain all of the programs and services at the level we have previously provided. Budget Drivers Based on the school committee budget guidelines of an overall 3% budget increase, the available maximum budget for the school district is $116,135,080. Maintaining the same services in FY26 that were provided in FY25 would require a total budget of $118,122,784, an increase of 4.76%. The primary drivers of this increase include:
1. Personnel and the Cost of Contractual Obligations 2. Special Education Services, Tuitions & Transportation 3. Utilities and Maintenance of Buildings 4. Health Insurance
There are four significant finance changes impacting the budget:
1. Health Insurance (1% Increase) The enormous success of implementing an employee health insurance opt-out program that saved nearly $600K is negated by a state-wide increase in MIIA health insurance rates of 12%. In addition, the district’s runout claims from the Acton Health Insurance Trust are largely paid off, and allowed for our health insurance budget to be reduced by approximately $450K. Fortunately, these two savings offset much of the 12% increase in health insurance. This is a positive story emerging from one of the significant structural changes the district undertook last year. Notably, after the budget was developed, MIIA increased the health insurance rate based on the state-wide average to 14.84%, which will cost the district approximately $300K beyond what is reflected in the Preliminary Budget. This increase will need to be incorporated into the Superintendent’s Recommended Budget which will be released in late February. We are hearing from the industry that we may anticipate a similar or greater increase in health insurance rates next year as well. 2. Retirement of Excluded Debt ($1.6M Savings) FY25 represented the last debt payment for prior renovations to the Junior and Senior High Schools. The elimination of this debt from the budget represents a savings of approximately $1.6M. Because this debt was excluded from Proposition 2 ½, there is a corresponding decrease in town revenues, meaning the savings from this is unavailable for use on our budget.
To develop engaged, well-balanced learners through collaborative, caring relationships. WELLNESS • EQUITY • ENGAGEMENT
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3. Staff Attrition ($450K Savings) The District will save approximately $450K through retirements and resignations. This was accounted for in the FY26 budget and allowed for the preservation of additional staff. 4. Vacancy Factor ($75K Increase) This is a budgetary line that historically reflected anticipated savings from unpaid leaves of absence during a school year. In recent years, the historical trend in savings has not materialized and has created liabilities in our operating budget during the school year. The District has allocated modest budget allocations each year toward eliminating this budget line.
Balancing the Budget The District used four primary strategies to develop the proposed budget:
1. Carefully manage class sizes We closely examined class sizes in all grades and departments and programmed class sizes to the school committee guidelines. This resulted in us proposing a reduction of 8 general educators at the junior and senior high schools. While there were no proposed reductions to elementary classroom teachers, we are not recommending an additional section of Kindergarten despite a projected increase of approximately 30 students. The impact of these reductions places all elementary grades within guidelines and results in junior high school core classes of approximately 24 students and high school average class sizes of between 22-23 students depending on the department. There is more variance in class sizes from the average in high school schedules due to the variety of course levels offered. 2. Implement recommendations of the Elementary Budget Task Force Based on recommendations of the Elementary Budget Task Force, the district is proposing a reduction in elementary general education assistants by approximately 25%. The proposal maintains full-time Kindergarten assistants and provides some additional part-time assistant hours to be allocated by each school in addition to the time required for lunch and recess coverage. Our recent Multilingual Program Review revealed a need for additional multilingual teachers to meet the state’s minimum recommended minutes for English Language Learners. This need is unmet in the Preliminary Budget Proposal. Though not a direct budgetary impact, we are working with school administrators to more closely align elementary schedules across schools for more efficient scheduling of multilingual services. A shared schedule would also offer future opportunities to maximize the efficient use of shared staff in other program areas including intervention services, special education, and specials (art, music, PE). 3. Closely examine scheduling practices to improve supports for multilingual and special education students 4. Examine Tier 2 & 3 intervention group sizes and scheduling to serve as many students as possible While the school committee directed administration to prioritize tiered supports for students, we were unable to fully fund the supports we currently have available. If we are unable to restore any of these proposed reductions during the budget process, we will need to closely examine intervention group sizes and scheduling practices to serve as many students as possible within our available resources,
To develop engaged, well-balanced learners through collaborative, caring relationships. WELLNESS • EQUITY • ENGAGEMENT
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Notably, we are finding limits to the number of students in a particular grade level that require intervention in similar skills that may hinder the degree to which this recommendation is implemented.
Proposed Staffing Changes Based on the guidelines and strategies noted above, we are proposing reductions to each of our levels as summarized below. More detailed information about proposed staffing reductions will be presented at the February 8 Budget Workshop. District-wide, our priority was staffing our general education classrooms within school committee guidelines and we were able to do this. The staffing proposal reflected below reflects general education staffing reductions to bring all class sizes K-12 within the stated guidelines.
Reductions at the elementary level parallelled recommendations from the Elementary Budget Task Force, particularly with regard to the reduction to general education assistant hours.
I want to acknowledge that the recommended budget reduces Tier 2 & 3 supports for students and leaves unmet a significant need for multilingual education services. These may be a priority if additional revenues become available.
Additions (1.06 FTE):
0.3 FTE
BCBA
Both of these positions are necessary for Special Education Programming based on existing IEPs
0.76 FTE Special Education Assistant
Reductions (19.64 FTE)
District-wide (1.6 FTE) 1.0 FTE
Special Education Administrator
Reorganization of Special Education Leadership Structure
0.6 FTE
Office Administrative Assistant
Reduction in staffing
Elementary (8.69 FTE) 1.0 FTE
Math Specialist
This reduces one of the six math specialist positions across the district. The 5 remaining math specialists will be allocated based on student need across the district. This represents an approximately 25% reduction in classroom assistant hours allotted to Elementary Schools and was a recommendation from the Elementary Budget Task Force. This will leave full-time general education assistants in Kindergarten classrooms and the equivalent of one grade level of assistant hours per school to be allocated by administration. These additional hours are in addition to the time required for lunch and recess coverage.
5.55 FTE General Education Assistants
1.9 FTE
Reading Assistants
This reduces four of the District’s 6 part-time reading assistants.
To develop engaged, well-balanced learners through collaborative, caring relationships. WELLNESS • EQUITY • ENGAGEMENT
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Remaining assistants will be allocated on a needs basis to schools with higher numbers of students requiring reading intervention. Convert Library Media Specialist position to a Library Media Assistant (Attrition).
0.0 FTE
Library/Media Specialists
Junior High School (3.0 FTE) 3.0 FTE
General Education Teachers (Math, Science, Social Studies)
Program to School Committee Class Size Guidelines - 1.0 ELA reduced this FY25. These additional 3.0 reductions reflect reduced enrollment. This will require 1 JHS team to be split between 7th and 8th Grades. Resulting class sizes in these content areas will remain at the upper end of school committee guidelines and average 24 students.
High School (6.35 FTE) 1.875 FTE Campus Security
Reduce Campus Monitors from current allotment of 5.85 FTE. There is currently 1.875 FTE vacant from these roles, so reductions are through attrition. Reduce a part-time STAR Tutor, which is a general education assistant position in the HS STAR Program. Program to School Committee Class Size Guidelines - 1.0 English Teacher reduced after the FY25 Budget due to attrition. The remaining reductions reflect reduced enrollment. The additional reductions were made in program areas where average class sizes were under school committee guidelines. Resulting class sizes in these content areas will average 22-23 students.
0.475 FTE STAR Tutor
5.0 FTE
General Education Teachers (2.0 English, 2.0 Social Studies, 1.0 Math)
Updates to Future Budget Iterations The development of the school budget is an iterative process over several months. The information in this preliminary budget proposal will evolve as we receive feedback from staff and community members as well as updated information from the state regarding key revenues and expenses. Some important updates not included in the preliminary budget that will be incorporated into the recommended budget: Revenues: Chapter 70 & Regional Transportation - The Governor released her budget on January 22, 2025, after the development of this Preliminary Budget. There are still many steps until the legislature passes its final budget in late-June or early-July. That said, in recent years, the Governor's Budget represents a conservative estimate of the revenues that will be included in the final budget and her proposal provides some modest increases to state revenues for Acton-Boxborough. New revenues from the Governor’s Budget are approximately $450,000, including moderate increases to both Chapter 70 Aid and Regional Transportation. Expenses: Health Insurance - Based on early guidance from MIIA, our health insurance budget accounted for a 12% increase. The District recently received a final budget calculation of a 14.84% increase which will result in approximately $300K in additional expenses that will need to be accounted for in the recommended budget.
To develop engaged, well-balanced learners through collaborative, caring relationships. WELLNESS • EQUITY • ENGAGEMENT
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Unemployment Insurance - The Governor's Office recently announced a multi-billion dollar deficit in state-wide unemployment insurance. It is possible that these costs will be passed on to employers beginning in FY26. We are following updates on this topic to better understand the impact on the school district budget. Options moving forward: The administration needs guidance from the school committee about how additional revenues and expenditures should impact the overall budget Options for the school committee include: 1. Recommended - Leave the assessments to the two towns at current levels. Use the additional state revenue to increase the district’s operating budget to reflect additional revenues and expenses. 2. Not Recommended - Leave the budget increase of 3% unchanged and use the additional revenues to further reduce assessments to the towns. Make further reductions to staff from the current budget proposal. Should the school committee choose the first option, the administration would return with a recommendation for the allocation of any additional revenues beyond expenses. My early thinking is to focus on the restoration of Tier 2 & 3 interventions for students and consider the unmet need for multilingual services if additional revenues become available. Long-Term Outlook & Efforts to Reduce Structural Funding Challenges FY25 In FY25, the District made structural changes to health insurance - changing insurance providers, and introducing an insurance opt-out program that is saving the district approximately $600K in the FY26 Budget. The District also addressed another significant structural budget deficit by limiting the use of Excess and Deficiency (E&D) funds to one-time uses. FY26 The school committee also convened an Elementary Budget Task Force to consider additional structural budget changes at the elementary level, some of which have been incorporated into this preliminary budget proposal. This resulted in several hundred thousand dollars of additional cost savings. These savings maximize efficiency, but we recognize they also compromise some of the educational programs that the students and families have come to rely on. Administration carefully reviewed class sizes across all levels of the system and has made reductions to general education classroom staff. The resulting reductions in general education staff parallel the historical reduction in students since regionalization. Class size projections for FY26 continue to remain within school committee guidelines, though this is an increase from what students and the community have come to expect in recent years. In addition to the steps above, the District has entirely eliminated the use of E&D funds from the proposed budget. We have nearly completed paying run-out claims from the health insurance trust and have reduced this part of the budget appropriately.
To develop engaged, well-balanced learners through collaborative, caring relationships. WELLNESS • EQUITY • ENGAGEMENT
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Beyond FY26 As we look into the future, without additional funding, industry trends in wages, health insurance and special education will likely continue to provide significant stress to our system. Based on these budgetary pressures combined with projected enrollment declines, the school committee may wish to consider a larger district-wide reconfiguration of schools and/or grade levels in order to preserve critical services for students. This would be a significant and disruptive undertaking, but may allow the district to focus resources and preserve educational services for students.
Summary Multiple considerations informed the development of the FY26 Budget:
● Residents of the two towns supported the schools in FY25 through significant tax increases ● The resources of the communities are limited ● Spending cautiously in FY26 reserves additional tax levy capacity for future years, when budget pressures are expected to persist While fiscal restraint is necessary in FY26 for the longer-term health of the District, it comes at the expense of support for students and with additional burden for educators. Some of these challenges include decreased availability of intervention support for students, unfunded needs in multilingual education services, increases to secondary class sizes, and reduced general education classroom support in the elementary schools. Limited increases in school funding are unsustainable for the educational services our students need and will result in further attrition to the experiences our students receive.
To develop engaged, well-balanced learners through collaborative, caring relationships. WELLNESS • EQUITY • ENGAGEMENT
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Preliminary Budget Overview January 30, 2025
WELLNESS EQUITY ENGAGEMENT
OUR VISION IS TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT INSPIRES A COMMUNITY OF LEARNERS. OUR MISSION IS TO DEVELOP ENGAGED, WELL-BALANCED LEARNERS THROUGH COLLABORATIVE, CARING RELATIONSHIPS.
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Mission, Vision, Values Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
ENGAGEMENT We provide engaging
WELLNESS We partner with families to prioritize social-emotional wellness, which is necessary for learning and developing resilience.
EQUITY We ensure all students have equitable access to programs and curricula to reach their potential.
educational opportunities where students develop passion and joy for learning.
Our vision is to develop engaged, well-balanced learners through collaborative, caring relationships Our mission is to provide high-quality educational opportunities that inspire a community of learners
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Agenda
Budget Timeline & Process School Committee Budget Guidelines Revenue Projections State Aid, Grants & Town Assessments Expense Projections Maintenance of Services Budget; Expenses by Cost Center Strategies to Balance the Budget Finance, Staffing & Structural Changes
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Questions & Discussion Rebeccah Wilson, School Committee Vice-Chair
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Timeline & Process Section 1 Peter Light, Superintendent of Schools
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FY26 Budget Development Schedule
Preliminary Budget Overview
Preliminary Budget Workshop
Final Recommended Budget
Recommended Budget
Budget Updates
January 30, 2025
February 8, 2025
February 27, 2025
March 13, 2025
March 20, 2025
Budget Hearing Required by MGL
Financial Overview MTSS, Multilingual & Special Education Detailed Staffing Proposals Preliminary Budget VOTE
Changes & updates to Preliminary Budget Continued Deliberation
School Committee Final Budget VOTE
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
FY26 Important Dates
Budget Workshop February 8, 2025 Comprehensive Budget Workshop Preliminary Budget Vote February 8, 2025 25 Days before final budget deadline Vote is majority of members from each town Budget Hearing March 13, 2025 Public Hearing Required under MGL
Final Budget Vote March 20, 2025 45 Days before earliest Town Meeting 2/3 of weighted votes of the full school committee Town Meetings May 5, 2025 - Acton May 12, 2025 - Boxborough
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3
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Enrollment & Staffing Trends Section 2 Peter Light, Superintendent of Schools
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District Enrollment K-12 Historical & Projected Enrollment
-604 -10.7%
-335 -6.6%
K-12 Enrollment
6,000
5,658 5,622 5,588 5,605 5,571 5,411
5,207 5,186 5,133 5,099 5,054
4,932 4,900 4,905 4,839 4,816
4,773 4,734 4,719
5,000
4,000
3,000
2,000
1,000
0
School Year
16
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Projected Enrollment 8 Year Projected Change By Level (Fall 2024 NESDEC Enrollment Report)
K-12 Enrollment by Level (Excludes Preschool)
3,000
2,517
2,493
2,477
2,471
2,465
2,463
2,442
2,437
2,417
-76
2,000
1,620
1,629
1,617
1,614
1,609
1,572
1,547
1,526
1,509
-91
836
824
1,000
804
784
774
778
762
771
754
-53
0
2024-25
2026-27
2028-29
2030-31
2032-33
School Year
Elementary
High School
Junior High
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Student Enrolment & Total Teachers Since Regionalization (FY2015)
-559 -9.88%
PK-12 Enrollment
6,000
600
5,658 5,622
5,588 5,605
5,571
5,411
5,207 5,186
5,133
5,099 5,054
Total Enrollment
4,500
450
405
401
395
397
384
380
Total Teachers*
372
372
368
362
Total Teacher Data not yet reported for 2024-25 by DESE
3,000
300
+34.8 +9.61%
1,500
150
0
0
2014-15
2016-17
2018-19
2020-21
2022-23
2024-25
School Year
*Includes all General Education & Special Education Teachers Source https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/statereport/programareastaffing.aspx
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Student Enrollment & Classroom Teachers Data excludes Support Teachers - Special Education, English Education and General Education support teachers
-604 -10.6%
PK-12 Enrollment
6,000
600
5,658 5,622 5,588 5,605 5,571
5,411
5,207 5,186 5,133 5,099 5,054
Total Enrollment
4,932
4,800
480
Projected Enrollment
3,600
360
Classroom Teachers
315
301
300 302 307 310 297
298 289 282
278 271
Classroom Teachers ('23-'25)
2,400
240
Classroom Teachers ('26)
-30.9 -9.8%
1,200
120
2022-30 represents last DESE published data FY23-45 & 24-25 are actual enrollment & district staff reductions FY26 shows projected enrollment & planned staffing reductions
0
0
2014-15
2016-17
2018-19
2020-21
2022-23
2024-25 2025-26
School Year
Reductions to K-12 classroom teachers over time are consistent with the overall enrollment decline 19
Students - Selected Populations Change Over Time
50%
Total High Needs % not yet reported for 2024-25
40%
32%
High Needs
29% 30%
30%
27% 28% 28%
25%
25% 25% 25%
First Language Not English
24%
23%
22%
21% 22% 21%
18% 19%
20%
Students with Disabilities
17% 17% 16% 16% 16% 16%
16% 16% 16% 15% 15% 16% 16% 16%
12%
Low Income
11% 11% 12%
8% 8%
10%
7% 8%
6%
5% 6% 6% 6% 5% 4%
5% 5% 5%
English Learner
4%
4% 4% 4%
0%
2014-15
2016-17
2018-19
2020-21
2022-23
2024-25
School Year
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Teachers - Student Support Staff Historical Staffing for Student Support Teachers 2015-2023 (based on DESE Data)
PK-12 Enrollment
125
107
TOTAL Support Teachers
104
100
90
87
Decrease in SpecEd Teachers is reflective of co-teaching and not a reduction in staffing
70
70
75
68
65
62
61
61
56
SpecEd Teachers
49
49
50
42
40
37
Instructional Support
35
35
28
27
27
26
24
23
23
23
22
25
English Language Teachers
14
11 7
11
11
9 0
9 2
8 0
7 0
6
4 0
4
4 0
Instructional Coaches
0
2014-15
2016-17
2018-19
2020-21
2022-23
2024-25
* DESE has not yet reported Support Teacher Data for some categories for 2023-24 and beyond
School Year
21
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Key Takeaways - Enrollment & Staffing
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The number of Support Teachers has increased in proportion to increases in high needs populations of students Student enrollment has declined and is expected to decline slowly over the next 8 years
The number of Classroom Teachers has declined in proportion to enrollment
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Funding for special education staffing for in-district programs has saved money in tuitions for out of district schools
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Budget Guidelines Section 3 Peter Light, Superintendent of Schools
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Budget Guidelines Overarching Goal & Purpose
Prioritize funding to ensure students have access to a robust, tiered system of supports for their: Social-emotional, mental, and behavioral health needs Academic needs Multilingual services Special Education supports and services
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Budget Guidelines Financial Guidelines
Revenue Projections & Cost Control: Overall budget increase of no greater than 3%* Boxborough assessment of less than 6% $0 of Excess and Deficiency Increase Capital Funding To ensure adequate funding for necessary short and long-term facilities needs. Plan for Obligations Cost of Contracts (steps, lanes, and Cost of Living Adjustment - COLA)
Retirement Contributions Health Insurance Premiums Runout claims from the Acton Health Insurance Trust
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Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Budget Guidelines Programatic Guidelines
Budget for general education class sizes within established school committee guidelines. Kindergarten: 18-20 students Grades 1-3: 20-22 students Grades 4-6: 22-24 students Grades 7-12: 22-24 students Incorporate prioritized recommendations from the Elementary Budget Task Force. Utilize staff attrition (retirements and resignations), whenever possible to reduce staffing levels in the event budget reductions are necessary. Reduce Tuition for Kindergarten families.
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19
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Revenue Projections Section 4 State Aid, Grants & Town Assessments Sheri Matthews, Director of Finance & Operations
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Revenue - Actual & Projected Excluding Town Assessments
FY2022 Actual
FY2023 Actual
FY2024 Actual
FY2025 Preliminary
FY2026 Preliminary
Budget Change
Percentage Change
REVENUE STATE AID - Foundation Aid (Chapter 70)
15,338,911
15,641,731
15,942,931
16,458,771
16,611,741
152,970
0.93%
Regional Transportation (Chapter 71)
2,105,961
2,204,798
2,424,551
2,231,200
2,231,200
-
0.00%
Charter School Reimbursement Aid McKinney-Vento Transp Reimbursement Sub-Total
190,293
212,263
162,245
144,784
135,000
-9,784
-6.76%
36,925 18,566,652
150,000 18,984,755
-150,000 -6,814
-100.00% -0.04%
17,635,165
18,058,792
18,977,941
OTHER REVENUES - Medicaid Reimbursement Earnings on Investments
610,090 64,879 - 7,018 681,987
272,724 747,150 15,000 13,182 1,048,056
230,046 734,013 15,000 8,382 987,441
215,000 300,000 15,000 10,000 540,000
200,000 300,000 15,000 8,500 523,500
-15,000 - - -1,500 -16,500
-6.98% 0.00% 0.00% -15.00% -3.06%
Rental Income Miscellaneous Sub-Total
Total Revenues
18,317,152
19,106,848
19,554,093
19,524,755
19,501,441
-23,314
-0.12%
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21
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Revenue Sources
Town Assessments 83.2%
Ch70 14.3%
Reserves 0.0%
Charter Reimbursement 0.1%
Other Revenue 0.5%
Reg. Transportation 1.9%
Total Revenue: $116,135,080
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Expense Projections Section 4 Maintenance of Services Budget, Expense Projections by Cost Center Sheri Matthews, Director of Finance & Operations
30
MAINTENANCE OF SERVICE BUDGET
FY25 Base $112,752,505
FY25 Base plus 3% $116,135,080
True Maintenance of Service Budget $118,122,784
FY26 Staff cuts needed to maintain 3% $1,987,704
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24
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Summary of Expenditures
FY26 Budget Increase / Decrease 129,000 -296 -1,661,940 1,477,933 805,638 99,953 931,881 4,215 - -43,300
Account
FY22
FY23
FY24
FY24
FY25
FY26
Revised Budget
Revised Budget 124,555 609,670
Revised Budget 144,000 814,796
Preliminary Budget 273,000 814,500 25,641,790 73,280,661
Description
Actuals
Actuals
TOTAL SUPERINTENDENT TOTAL ASST SUPT CURR & INSTR TOTAL FINANCE DEPARTMENT TOTAL PERSONNEL TOTAL SPECIAL ED DEPT TOTAL TECH DEPARTMENT TOTAL FACILITIES DEPARTMENT TOTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
162,559 381,078 23,126,776 62,704,854 6,455,942 744,627 3,737,686
119,867.52 575,519
124,032.23 440,245.13 25,283,976.2 69,440,775.55 4,114,536.57 814,298.14 4,213,292.28 81,911.75
24,182,209.42 65,175,931.95 6,090,030.12 852,602.62 4,141,461.09
24,832,689 69,232,799 4,860,095 789,050 4,154,302
27,303,730 71,802,728 7,006,079 896,357 4,799,400
7,811,717 996,310 5,731,281
74,871 127,519 196,636
87,484.49 132,728.24 21,195.73
86,367 126,310 114,400
92,349 126,310 119,650
96,564 126,310 76,350
TOTAL ART DEPARTMENT TOTAL DEI DEPARTMENT
76,304.88 75,294.59
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25
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Summary of Expenditures
FY26 Budget Increase / Decrease 13,700 1,000 -15,500 1,895 464
Account
FY22
FY23
FY24
FY24
FY25
FY26
Revised Budget 104,863 470,254 208,262
Revised Budget 113,650 469,045 239,455
Revised Budget 119,400 433,120 232,195 76,005 63,786 62,410 61,123 68,600
Preliminary Budget
Description
Actuals
Actuals
TOTAL ATHLETICS TOTAL SENIOR HIGH TOTAL JUNIOR HIGH TOTAL BLANCHARD
217,782.12 462,631.39
335,502.49 374,951.57 159,499.62 69,735.89 50,765.49 40,419.54
133,100 434,120 216,695 77,900 64,250 60,650 62,123
232,641.6 69,972.74 63,552.98 55,063.95 58,398.89 59,636.37 67,109.82 40,043.36 29,954.4 102,735,817.8
71,661 54,621 45,333 49,425 75,870 66,763
71,366 63,786
TOTAL CONANT TOTAL DOUGLAS TOTAL GATES TOTAL McCARTHY-TOWNE
62,137 61,123 67,350 66,516 43,200 36,548 106,224,413
-1,760 1,000
47,871.19 57,270.79 36,788.41 41,625.28 17,464.52 105,896,562.1
68,800 67,300 63,508 38,151 116,135,080
200 584 10,308 - 1,754,975
TOTAL MERRIAM TOTAL NURSING TOTAL PHYSICAL ED TOTALS
66,716 53,200 38,151 114,380,105
30,187 98,889,787
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26
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Total Expenses
22.1%
6.7%
4.9%
0.9%
1.4%
0.7%
Teaching and Learning Superintendent
0.2%
Personnel Finance Special Education
Finance - Health Insurance - Retirement (non-teachers) - Debt Service
Facilities All Others Technology
All Others: - All Schools - Nursing - Physical Education - Music - Art - DEI - Athletics
63.1%
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27
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Preliminary Budget and Assessments
Total Budget: $116,135,080 3.00% Budget Increase 1.69% Total Assessment Increase
Acton $79,835,435 0.97% Assessment Increase
Boxborough $16,798,204 5.25% Assessment Increase
Note: Assessment increases between the two towns vary based on changes in the three-year enrollment average.
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28
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Strategies to Balance the Budget Section 5 Finance, Staffing & Structural Changes Peter Light, Superintendent
36
Budgeting with limited resources
This can compromise the effectiveness of our staff and programs if not sufficiently supported Prioritize critical services & maximize efficiency within existing structures 1 Reimagine & restructure how we use resources 2
This may require a combination of short and long-term thinking 37
Significant Finance Changes Non-personnel Budget Changes
JHS/SHS Debt paid off in FY25; reduced District budget by $1.6M (also reduces town revenues by proportionate amount) Retirement of Excluded Debt (-$1.6M) Budget 12% increase per MIIA ($1.1M) Reduced runout claims budget by $450K Saved $613K by implementing "Opt-Out" Health Insurance (+1%)
Attrition (-$448K)
1
3
Reduced $448K from personnel budget resignations, retirements, & LOA
Continued reduction of Vacancy Factor - increased budget by $75K Vacancy Factor (+$75K)
4
2
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31
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Budgeting Strategies
Carefully manage class sizes Analyzed class sized at JHS and HS and made adjustments to staffing in areas where class sizes were below School Committee guidelines (22-24 students) All departments K-12 will be programmed within guidelines for FY26 Reduces 8 general education teachers in grades 7-12 Implement Recommendations of the Elementary Budget Task Force Reduce Budget for general education assistants by approximately 25% Maintain full-time K assistants and some additional part time assistants to be allocated at the school level Provide coverage for lunch and recess
Closely examine scheduling practices to provide supports for multilingual and special education students Address unmet staffing needs in multilingual education and special education by more closely aligning elementary school schedules to increase the ability to share staff across grade levels and schools Examine Tier 2 & 3 intervention group sizes and scheduling to serve as many students as possible Address reductions in intervention services to students by assessing intervention group sizes and schedules to support as many students as possible
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32
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Proposed Staffing Changes (FTE) Additions, Reductions & Other Changes
Proposed NET Reduction of 18.64 FTE
Additions (1.06 FTE) + 1.06 Special Education FTE 0.3 BCBA (Special Education Programming) .76 SpecialEd Assistant Other Budgeted Attrition (-$448K) Culturally Responsive Teacher Leader & SEED Leader Stipends (-$48,500) A World of Difference Stipends (-$22,068) Vacancy Factor (+75,000)
Reductions (19.64 FTE) 1.6 District Offices 1.0 Special Ed Administrator 0.6 Office Assistant 8.69 Elementary 1.0 Math Specialist 5.55 General Education Assistants 1.9 Reading Assistants Library/ Media Teacher to Library Assistant 3.0 Junior High School 3 .0 General Education Teachers 6.35 High School 5.0 General Education Teachers 1.875 Campus Security .475 STAR Tutor
1
3
2
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33
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Tracking for the next iteration...
Governor released budget proposal Jan 22
Increased Ch70 Aid and Regional Transportation Aid
MIIA Rate increase is 14.9% (12% Budgeted based on prior guidance) Health Insurance (MIIA) confirmed rate increase Fed. Govt. requiring MA to pay back $2B in pandemic unemployment - potential employer liability Statewide Unemployment Liability
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34
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
FY26 Pending Changes
Revenues $ 218,130
Expenses $300,000 Health Insurance Unknown Unemployment Insurance? Unknown Special Education
Chapter 70
$ 4,515 $ 283,439
Charter School Transportation
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35
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Structural Changes
FY25
FY26
FY27 (and beyond) 2 potential pathways: 1. Hyper-focus on efficiency
Eliminate of E&D (FY26)
Health Insurance
Dissolved Acton HIT and entered MIIA $600K Savings by implementing "Opt-Out" in FY25
No use of E&D in FY26 Budget to rebuild reserves
Increase sharing of staff across elementary schools
Reduce budget for elementary general education assistants by 25%
Specials - Art, Music, PE, Library Specialists - Reading & Math Other? Consider increasing class sizes across all level
Restrict Use of E&D (FY25)
Elementary Budget Task Force Recommendations
Limited use of reserves to one-time expenses
Coordinating schedules to assist in service delivery (ML, SpecEd, Intervention) Reconsideration of Elementary Schedules
2. Consider reorganization/ consolidation of schools
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36
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Guidance Needed
Revenues and Expenses are both expected to increase between the Preliminary and Recommended Budgets. We need guidance and direction from the committee:
Recommended - Leave the assessments to the two towns unchanged . Use the additional state revenue to increase the district’s operating budget to reflect additional revenues and expenses. Not Recommended - Leave the budget limit of 3% unchanged and use the revenues to further reduce assessments to the towns and make further reductions to the current budget proposal.
1
2
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37
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District
Questions & Discussion Section 5 Rebeccah Wilson, School Committee Vice-Chair (Acton)
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Section 2: Financial Summary & Analyses
FY2026 Superintendent’s Preliminary Budget
This page has been left blank intentionally.
FY2026 Superintendent’s Preliminary Budget
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District FY2025 Recommended Budget July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026
Budget Request Overview and Analysis
Sheri-Lynne Matthews, Director of Finance & Operations February 8, 2025
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