January 21, 2026 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
January 21, 2026 | 6:00 p.m
Agenda
- Call to Order 6:00 pm
- FY27 Budget Planning
- Review budget proposals for Chapman, WHS & CTE, Ed Tech, and Athletics
- Budget update from Administration
- Grants & Gifts
- Athletics Sponsorship Program
- Audits & Reports
- Contracts & Procurement
- 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
January 21, 2025 | 6:00 p.m
Members In Attendance: Danielle Graziano (Chair)
Members also present: Mary-Ellen Devine, Tracey Nardone, Kelly McClean, Cindy Lyons, Ashley Dickerman, Mayor Molisse
Also Present: Brian Smith, Assistant Superintendent, Melanie Curtin, Superintendent, Chief of Staff Langill
The meeting was called to order at 6:01pm
Tonight's meeting is being recorded via Zoom Webinar
The Chair welcomed Mayor Molisse and Chief of Staff Langill.
All budget materials are posted on the website.
FY27 Budget Planning
Principal Monahan, AD Kelly, CTE Director DePina, Principal Jones, and Tech Director Lindholm presented their proposed FY27 budgets. Each FY27 budget reflects a 1% increase.
WHS
The proposed FY27 budget is $255,534, an increase of $2300. Areas highlighted: increase in textbooks and consumables, decrease in copy paper usage, and price increase in guidance software. There are no additional staffing requests for the high school. It was reminded that the core curriculum is part of the District wide instruction budget.
Athletics
The proposed FY27 operating budget is $172,985, an increase of $1700. Contract services and supplies reflect the increase. There are 33 athletic programs; a request is being made for a half time (.5) Assistant Athletic Director.
CTE:
The proposed FY27 operating budget is $93,663, an increase of $927. Concern was expressed that learning may be hindered with a small budgetary increase. Additionally the CTE revolving budget supplements for supplies and materials (revenues from CTE programs)
Discussion:
-Replacing essential equipment (by capital measures), state/earmark funds, priority list of replacement
-Selling of old equipment
-Increasing CTE programs; Electric car certified instructor, addition of Chapter 74 Criminal Justice program application
-Capital improvement plan and free cash; requests went out to the departments this week. Capital improvement will be presented to the school committee on February 25 and will go before Town Council on March 1. Capital requests are typically funded through free cash which is used to bridge the gap of the snow/ice budget. Free cash (including operating surplus) historically has been between $2-12M.
-CTE Promotion and whether the community is taking advantage of program services as well as reward system
Chapman
The proposed FY27 budget is $193,693, an increase of $1900. Contract service for hardware was highlighted. Devices will remain one to one with students bringing chromebooks home. Device loss has been reallocated from cost center budgets to the technology budget.
Discussion:
Reminder was given that CTE fees and chromebook loss/replacement fees are proposed to be increased.
Inquiry was made if budgets reflect mental health supports, wrap around services, school adjustment counselors. It was shared that these supports are included in the Student Services budget.
Educational Technology
The proposed FY27 budget is $721,818.79. It was explained that the one to one device initiative (philosophy) will be changing for the primary schools. A program has been piloted at Seach where chromebook carts are available per grade level K-2 and available per classroom for grades 3-5. Devices remain in the building and do not travel home with the students. Positive feedback has been received and Murphy will be piloting next. Middle and High School one to one initiative remains the same (students have devices in school and at home). Cost of implementation is $168K (both tech budget and grant funding). The town has previously invested (capital measure) in school technology infrastructure, data center, backup, and cybersecurity. Assistant Superintendent Fratallilo will be at the next budget sub meeting with primary principals and can share more information about the change in initiative as well as students
Discussion:
-Device availability for students in substantially separate programs, ensuring devices are identified in IEPs (possible amendments needed) and have required applications
-Staff desktop replacement (included in overarching 10yr capital replacement plan), broken hardware replaced included in tech budget
-Searching all schools for chromebook carts to use
-Ongoing software and licences for data recovery and backup included in tech budget
Ongoing work is being done to understand what the ‘one off’ scenarios might be. Ms. Fratolillo and Principals will be able to share more information at the next budget sub meeting. SEPAC can help communicate out as well.
Staffing requests were reviewed. 4 additional positions are anticipated; a district Speech Pathologist, an ABA at Hamilton, a grade 1 Teacher at Nash, and ESP at Wessagusset. Assistant Principals are currently in WECC, Hamilton. Pingree, Seach, and Wessagusset schools.
Concern was expressed that ABAs, RBT, and BCBA are part of future considerations and not a necessity of FY27 planning. It was emphasized that the needs of the students have greatly increased. It was shared that the committee is advocating for needs above and beyond level service.
-Budget Update from Administration
Assistant Superintendent Smith shared a level service budget (includes positions added after approved budget as well as projected positions needed) is strived for each year. Historically the budget increases on average 4% a year. FTE’s have increased 20%. Enrollments, needs, and staffing are evaluated for forecast. $425K of needed positions were added for FY26 which are added to FY27 level service. If revenues come in as expected and there is only a 1% increase, staffing cuts may have to be implemented. 3 scenarios are presented in an effort to be proactive and for transparency for worst case, level service and aspiration. It was stated that if it is a worse case scenario the district would be moved back quite a bit (2008-09). It is early in the process and it is ongoing and everchanging. Thanks and appreciation were expressed for attendants as well as for comments, feedback and advocacy. Recognition of impact on livelihoods, careers, children and families and contractual time were voiced.
Chief of Staff Langill gave an overview of the projected FY27 budget revenues; a 2.7% increase (a moderately healthy growth). FY25 and FY26 saw a 4.2 and 4.0% increase (not typically normal municipal budget growth). Total new town revenue is projected at $5,673,913 while the projected FY27 school department level service is $4.76M. New Growth is assessed at $950K. The Town has previously invested in 230 new FTE’s for the school, on average 4.5%/year in addition to millions in capital measures. Town revenue is distributed between all departments after fixed costs (insurance, debt service, retirement, assessments). Fixed cost projected increases for health insurance (9%) and state assessments (5%) are significant (every 1% increase for insurance=$300K). Departments were asked to prepare a 1% budget increase to assess worst case scenarios and identify efficiencies and what is at stake. It is early in the process; unknowns plus the Governor's budget hasn’t been published nor assessments yet. The trash fee has increased over the last 2 years to help recoup the cost of the service. It was communicated that once Union Point gets going it will be a considerable factor in recurring revenue returns. The state has invested $35M in the project.
Mayor Molisse conveyed that the new administration is committed to great communication and is ‘pro schools’, meeting with the Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent every month and will work through this budget and tough time together.
It was mentioned that 1% isn’t equitable as schools are the biggest department in the town and a worst case scenario would mean $3.9 in significant personnel cuts and inquiry was made if other departments would be impacted as greatly respectively.
Opinion was shared that a level service budget is a disservice as student needs are increasing, staff are stretched thin and struggling.
Public Comment
Discussions:
-Increased needs of students (EL, special education, services, etc)
-Cherry sheet revenue and expenses (charter school & MBTA assessments), Chapter 70 formula, net school spending and per pupil expenditure
-Union Point-impact on schools, redistricting, tracking new growth and revenues, proper development plan and management
-Weymouth as a “Gateway City” and funding
-Mike Murphy, President WEA
Takes exception that the school department has been ‘spoiled’ in previous fiscal years, that the school budget should be overfunded (so students receive quality education) not level funded (mediocrity). Shared concerns for new developments in Jackson Sq and Union Point and the impact to schools and town resources. And appealed to the Town to fund schools.
-Kim Ferreira, 105 Charles Diersch
Expressed her confidence in the team and shared her want for new families moving in to have an amazing educational experience. She expressed concern for insufficient support for early intervention, BCBAs, RBTs, mental health, and special education services.
-Elizabeth Foster Nolan, 54 House Rock
Expressed her thanks to the committee and new members for running and her eagerness for the future and the continued cooperation and dialogue. She made mention of earlier Union Point plans including a school. She inquired if employees are offered a stipend if not taking advantage of health insurance.
-Guz Perez, 16 Hewitt
Clarified that the $950K new growth is estimated. He shared his opinion on equalized value, Chapter 70 Aid and the formula, local contribution, impacts to departments with 1% increase not being equitable, and the disservice it would be if there was a $4M cut. He further voiced the impact of 1% to the school department could mean as much as 40+ staff let go, that the community will be successful if the schools are successful. He suggested having these difficult hard budget discussions more in-depthly at school committee meetings. Extensive conversation occurred between Mr. Perez and Chief of Staff Langill.
It was reiterated that the committee and administration is giving serious attention and is fully aware of potential negative impacts of a reduced budget. It is still early in the process and transparency is being shared. Many collective bargaining contracts are currently being negotiated as well.
-MaryBeth Pachay
Expressed that the education her 4th grader at Wessagussett receives is vastly different from what she received in 1st grade, that students and families are receiving less, have lost programming (STEAM) and that she would like Weymouth’s reputation to have the best schools. She expressed concern for teacher cuts and offered to pay more taxes if it meant better schools and inquired how and who to advocate.
-Katie Monteiro, 8 Chauncy
Inquired if any revenue from Union Point is earmarked for the schools. She expressed concern for BCBA, RBT, ABA, provider caseloads and support for school adjustment counselors and mental health as well as supporting other town department services. She shared the opinion that Weymouth students should receive the quality education that they deserve.
-Michelle Campbell, Wessagusset parent
Expressed concern for the budget and that it should reflect the needs of all students and learning should be prioritized in the community and budget.
-Lisa Wiklund, Murphy Library ESP
Expressed her thanks for the Mayor’s attendance and for the budget transparency. Inquired about cherry sheet assessments and highlighted student facing positions lost over the last 2 years and championed for services and support for EL and special education students.
The next budget sub meeting is February 4.
The Meeting adjourned at 8:58pm on the motion by Ms. Graziano, seconded by Ms. Nardone. Motion passed unanimously.