Wareham Public Schools proposes $38.24 million net FY27 budget, cites salaries and special-ed tuitions as main drivers

Wareham Public Schools administrators presented a proposed FY27 budget to the town finance committee that would keep core services while adding a small number of targeted positions.

Superintendent Matt Deandre said the district’s gross request is about $41.8 million and that projected offsets—chiefly state circuit-breaker reimbursements, Title I and IDEA funds and revolving accounts—bring the net ask to $38,244,686. "I'm calling this a level service plus budget," Deandre said, adding that salary increases and out-of-district tuition are the primary cost drivers.

Kristen Flynn, the district’s finance director, told the committee the proposal assumes roughly $2.18 million in circuit-breaker reimbursements for high-cost special-education placements and that salary contract increases across teachers and drivers account for the largest share of the $2.1 million year-over-year increase the district is seeking.

School leaders described how those increases play out at building level. Wareham High School Principal Scott Paladino said the high school budget supports 543 students (projected 567) and a special-education population that requires significant staff and sometimes placement outside district schools. "We don't put students out unless it's absolutely necessary," Paladino said, noting some private placements and collaborative programs can cost in the tens or hundreds of thousands per student.

Middle- and elementary-school leaders emphasized staffing pressure at lower grades. Middle School Principal Dr. Sarah Russo requested additional interventionists to support reading and math; Elementary Principal Dan Sylvester described a large kindergarten enrollment and urged restoring paraprofessionals to reduce classroom ratios.

Administrators also stressed reliance on competitive grants for programs outside the core operating budget. Bethany Chandler, director of Beyond School Time, described summer and after-school programming funded by 21st Century/DESE grants and said transportation for care is tied to a recently awarded $10,000 grant.

Deandre told the committee the district has eliminated about $2.5 million in positions over recent years and warned that further cuts would hit programs and services for students. The workshop concluded after an opportunity for finance-committee members to ask clarifying questions; the committee will use these figures in upcoming town budget negotiations.

Next steps: the school committee will finalize the proposed budget and present it as part of the town budget process; officials asked the finance committee and town administration to evaluate offsets, competitive-grant prospects and revolving-fund balances when considering the request.