School Committee presents $142M FY26 School Budget at Public Hearing

By Neil Zolot

The current Fiscal Year 2026 school budget proposal is $142,154,420, a 4.9% increase over $135,510,702 for the current Fiscal Year 2025. A budget presentation given to the members at a Budget Subcommittee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday, April 3 characterizes it as a level service budget. Superintendent William Hart said it reflects “values and instructional themes that support and relate to high academic standards that are inclusive and student centered. We’ll continue to provide the service we believe will support our children whether it’s in the classroom or extracurricular activities we offer.”

“I believe the Fiscal 2026 budget reflects the continued commitment for students…positive contract negotiations and responsible spending,” new School Committee chair and at-Large member Samantha Hurley said.

Within that overall budget, the Operating Budget is $136,940,205, up 4.61% from $130,910,702; $5,214,215 for Special Education transportation, up 13.35% from $4,600,000; and $35,771,530 in chargebacks to the City, up 9% from $32,749,540. Hart’s salary will be 247,200, up 3% from $240,000. School Committee compensation is $124,875, up 8.82% from $114,750.

Chargebacks to the City cover things not included in Net School Spending, which is the amount a community is required to spend on education as designated by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which is the sum of Chapter 70 state aid and required local spending. Chapter 70 aid will be $126,865,323, up 7.45% from $118,072,876, leaving the City to cover, among other things, the School Department’s Health and Life Insurance ($16,211,877) and $19,559,653 in miscellaneous expenses of building insurance, upkeep of Everett Stadium, a police resource officer and Charter School tuitions.

Ward 5 member Marcony Almeida-Barros pointed out that state aid numbers could rise if more money is forthcoming in the state budget.

The April 3 presentation noted increasing fixed costs and out-of-district Special Education costs as Contributing Factors Influencing the Budget. Other contributing factors are maintaining positions previously funded through aid during the pandemic and adherence to the Student Opportunity Act. “The SOA Plan addresses a subset of a district’s overall initiatives focusing on evidence-based programs and strategies that will improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students, including English Learners, students with disabilities and low-income students,” a memo for the School Committee prepared by Hart reads.

A stabilizing factor is only a minor increase in the number of students. There are 7,347 in the school system now and 7,361 are projected for Fiscal Year 2026. There were 7,345 in Fiscal Year 2024. The student population has been relatively stable since 2023, when there were 7,285 students after a low point of 6,813 in 2022.

Ward 2 member Joanna Garron asked Hart about the effect of recently announced cuts of $106 million in education aid to the state; $4,897,300 was earmarked for Everett. “It’s infuriating and scary,” she feels.

“We didn’t commit that money, so it will have no direct impact,” Hart answered. “We have not lost anything.”

The required Public Hearing on the budget was held Monday, April 7, at 6 p.m. before the regular meeting at 6:30. It lasted five minutes, with no one in attendance. “Seeing no speakers, in order to close the hearing, I have to ask if anyone is in favor of the budget three times as well as if anyone opposes it,” Hurley said. When no one responded to the prompts, the Hearing was closed at 6:05.

In Public Comment in the regular meeting of the Committee convened at 6:30 p.m., Everett Teachers Association president and Parlin School teacher Kimberly Auger told the School Committee, “I want to thank you for bringing forward such a fair and equitable budget.”

Hurley became chair in January, when the position and that of vice chair are appointed. Previous chair and Ward 3 member Jeanne Cristiano was appointed vice chair. “On January 6, during the organizational portion of our regular meeting, I was unanimously nominated by my colleagues for the position, alongside Jeanne for vice chair,” Hurley said. “It is a great honor to serve the membership fully and faithfully within this role. I believe the committee has amazing strengths that benefit our service to the community and look forward to supporting their goals.”