School Committee unanimously approves $146M FY27 budget proposal; no School Choice participation

By Neil Zolot

The School Committee approved a budget proposal of $146,025,399 for Fiscal Year 2027 proposed by Superintendent William Hart by a vote of 9-0 at their meeting on Monday, May 4, with Ward 6 member Joseph D’Onofrio absent. It was preapproved 10-0 by a meeting of the School Committee Subcommittee of the Whole on Thursday, April 16. The budget is comprised of an operating budget of $139,290,473 and a Special Education and Transportation Budget of $6,104,526, which is contributed by the City of Everett and falls outside the net spending requirement of the City required by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

The new budget is 2.28% higher than the Fiscal Year 2026 budget of $142,154,420. Superintendent William Hart described the increase as “a modest number that must hold up against rising fixed costs.” Nevertheless, it will be the largest portion of the overall city budget, which Mayor Robert Van Campen will present to the City Council next week. The Fiscal Year 2026 budget was 47.4% of the City Fiscal Year 2026 budget of $299,719,104.

The new budget also includes $36,000,000 in chargebacks from the City, a cap set by Van Campen. The City pays for some things not included in Net School Spending or the school budget but then imposes a charge or chargeback on the School Department to cover those items. In Fiscal Year 2026 it was $35,771,530, with initial estimates for Fiscal Year 2027 at close to $41 million. The cap means the City will pay for everything over $36,000,000. “I want to commend the Mayor for that,” Ward 5 member Marcony Almeida-Barros said.

The members also took their customary vote to not participate in School Choice, which would allow the school system to accept students from other communities. A vote is required by DESE.

Once a student is accepted, that student is enrolled. Although a district receives revenue from the student’s home district or sending district’s Chapter 70 funds, adopting School Choice can create needs for additional local funding related to class sizes requiring additional staff. School Choice revenue would infuse the School Department with new revenue in its first year but would have little or no impact in subsequent years and be like an existing offset like the transportation and facilities rental offsets.

The members also accepted a $20,000 grant from the federal Building Early Childhood Partnerships: A Preschool Itinerant Team Initiative for professional development for preschool teachers who provide services for some students in private preschools. “It’s a decent amount of money and will provide training for our staff,” Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dennis Lynch said.

“These types of grants encourage specific training in districts that might not ordinarily happen, and we’ve taken advantage of one,” Hart added.

In another item, High School students involved in the Theatre Company production of “Grease” addressed the Committee to inform them and the public about shows on Thursday and Friday, May 7 and 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Admission is $5.

The School Committee held a Public Hearing on the budget on Thursday, April 29. A number of parents and educators spoke in favor of the proposal, including Madeline English School Principal Paolo Lambresa and Everett Teachers Association President and Parlin School elementary level teacher Kimberly Auger. “This budget takes important spots by maintaining services,” Lambresa said. “It reflects a commitment to equity and acknowledges different students require different services. Meeting those needs are essential for success.”

A Public Hearing on School Choice was also held April 29, but no one chose to speak about it.