December 3, 2025 Budget Subcommittee Meeting
Weymouth School Committee
WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
BUDGET SUB-COMMITTEE WITH FULL SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Adams Library Conference Room | 89 Middle Street, Weymouth
December 3, 2025 | 6:00 p.m
Agenda
- Call to Order 6:00 pm
- Grants & Gifts
- Fair Share Earmarks
- Alison Trust Bequest
- Athletics Sponsorship Program
- Audits & Reports
- EOYR FY25
- OCR Settlement Agreement
- Contracts & Procurement
- Transportation 5 year
- AHERA Compliance
- Website
- FY26
- Athletics game coverage rates
- Athletics game coverage rates
- FY27 Budget Planning
- Cost Center Managers Memo
- Updates and Timeline
- Public Comment
Public Comment shall be in accordance with Policy BEDH
The three members of the Budget Subcommittee wish to encourage all members of the School Committee to attend and participate in budget discussions whenever they like. Because the Open Meeting Law requires that any meeting that includes a quorum of school committee members (4) deliberating on matters under their jurisdiction be posted as a meeting of the full committee, all Budget Subcommittee meetings are listed as full School Committee meetings.
Pursuant to Chapter 2 of the Acts of 2023, this meeting will be conducted in person and, as a courtesy, via remote means in accordance with applicable law. Please note that while an option for remote attendance and/or participation is being provided as a courtesy to the public and School Committee, the meeting/hearing will not be suspended or terminated if technological problems interrupt the virtual broadcast, unless required by law.
To join the meeting via Zoom by computer or internet-enabled phone: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84836567522
Meeting Recording
Meeting Minutes
WEYMOUTH BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE with Full School Committee
Adams Library | 89 Middle St., Weymouth
December 3, 2025 | 6:00 p.m
Members In Attendance: Danielle Graziano (Chair)
Members also present: Mary-Ellen Devine, Tracey Nardone, Kelly McClean
Also Present: Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent, Melanie Curtin, Superintendent
The meeting was called to order at 6:07pm
Tonight's meeting is being recorded via Zoom Webinar
Assistant Superintendent Smith introduced and welcomed Cristine O’Connor, Program Development Coordinator. Due to the retirement of Betsy Harris, the role has been repositioned. Ms. O’Connor has hit the ground running with the athletic sponsorship banner program; $37,300 raised thus far (an additional $500 from Bethany Builders coming). Donations will help with user fees. A new HUDL Camera was installed at WHS field and a new PA system will hopefully be installed in the spring. Ms. O’Connor also helped with Dream Catcher and will be working on program development, gifts/fundraising, and building community sponsorship and partnerships.
Grants & Gifts
Grant Award Notice has been received for Fair Share Earmarks (part of Millionaires Tax) for a free period program (feminine hygiene products available in schools) of $750K as well as for CTE, $300K for improvement to CTE spaces (carpentry, culinary, allied health). As the sponsoring district for the free period program WPS will be able to fund 2 positions. Some CTE items on the capital list potentially could be removed with s grant.
Alison Trust Bequest
The amount of bequest is to be determined as the assets are in bonds. Once liquidated and an amount known (potentially ~$75K) it will be brought back to the school committee. Donation would benefit post secondary trade/union education scholarships.
Audits & Reports
The FY25 End of Year Report signed off by the Chair and Superintendent has been submitted. Original reporting was due in October. The report will go through audit next year and if there are any findings the district has 2 years to amend. Submission confirmation was received.
OCR Settlement
The settlement has been posted to the school committee blog. Complying with policy the school committee must be notified of any settlements. The complaint was submitted to the Office of Civil Rights in 2021. The settlement of $2300 is to reimburse a family for afterschool care (program was not able to meet the needs of a student). There is a shared responsibility between the district and Champions. If families are not able to come to an agreement with Champions they are encouraged to reach out to the building principal to level up.
Contracts & Procurement
Transportation 5 yr contract
Request through the Mayor’s Office to seek Town Council approval for a 5 yr transportation contract at the December 15 meeting for vote at the January 20 meeting was made. Once approved the IFB process will be used. The current contract is $2.5M and the vendor is First Student. The district is legally obligated to provide buses for the parochial schools as well. Potentially 1 to 2 buses may be added to the bid.
Given budget constraints and like Newton PS, suggestion was made to look at how to eliminate bussing for the parochial schools.
AHERA Compliance
Due to the old contracted vendor not reporting (surveillance every 3 months) to DLS in a timely manner the new contracted vendor for AHERA asbestos remediation will be Pennoni. The contract is for 3 years and they have already helped to get back on track with reporting.
Website
The contract is set to expire at the end of this school year. The cost is $28K per year to maintain; in addition Kelly Powers manages content on the site. Using Chapter 30B exemption for software maintenance, the district will continue to use Final Site for another 3 year contract.
FY26 Budget Planning
After the fall season, AD Kelly reviewed game worker fees and increased Hockey site managers to $75 (from $50) and $100 (from $75) on Saturdays. There is money in the athletics budget to cover the increase. Ms. Kelly will continue to review throughout the year.
FY27 Budget Planning
The cost center budget memo was shared out to 20 cost centers (buildings/departments). Cost centers will meet in January through budget hearings with the Superintendent and administration to develop the district budget; more detailed as the process goes along.
The Mayors memo sent to all departments (schools, fire, police, DPW, etc) requesting FY27 budgets be calculated with a 1% increase over FY26 was posted to the blog.
Updates
A letter of advocacy signed by all Superintendents for increased circuit breaker reimbursement, chapter 70 inflation cap, fully reimbursing transportation costs, and mitigating charter schools and targeted investment in staffing to support mental health is at the state level.
The Inspector General will be looking into the out of district tuition rate process (currently set by OSD-Operational Services Division) as well as special and regular education transportation costs and procurement.
The IG, Jeffrey Shapiro also released his reporting of the FY23 Brockton Public Schools $18M deficit. Available on Mass.gov.
Projection for level service (keeping FY26 budget and the added 12.1 compliance positions) for FY27 is 93,603,115, an increase of $3,489,214 (3.87%). With the Mayors directive, a projected increase of only 1% in revenues, the FY27 budget would be $91,013,000, creating a ~$3M shortfall for FY27. To be transparent it was shared that reduction in staffing, programs, increased fees and class size will be assessed and affected. Talks with the union and JLMs are underway; dates, timelines, and seniority are being discussed. Notification will adhere to collective bargaining agreements. It was noted that this is not a deficit as spending is not over what has been allocated. Understanding and care were expressed as this affects people and their livelihoods as well as students and families.
It was shared that collective bargaining is in the middle of negotiations.
The next meeting will be Jan 14, 2025. Hopefully the Governors initial budget (concurrent with WPS budget schedule) and charter reimbursement, chapter 70 numbers will be out.
Public Discussion
Opinion was expressed that understanding of the metrics and outcomes/outputs (what is being lost from the budget; staffing, programming) of the decreased budget be fully expressed to the town and community. It was stated that education is a long term investment. Support was voiced for appropriate state reimbursement.
Inquiry was made of the ABA open position at Pingree. It was shared that an offer was sent out today. This position does not need to go before council for funding as a carpentry position will not be filled this year and next. 2 other employees are taking on. Inquiry was made on town/school conversations and the mayor's memo.
Kudos were expressed to Mr. Smith, the Superintendent and staff for their hard work and transparency. Getting the word out of the budget reality as soon as possible to staff, the community, students and families of the potential risk of what could be lost with only a 1% increase was asked for. It was mentioned that it’s unclear in Weymouth will need to increase their local contribution (cherry sheet).
The Meeting adjourned at 7:13pm on the motion by Mrs. Nardone, seconded by Mrs. Devine. Motion passed unanimously.