Swampscott committee approves five-year education contract with Nahant

The Swampscott School Committee on April 9 approved a five-year agreement with the Town of Nahant to continue educating Nahant students in Swampscott schools starting in fiscal year 2028.

Acting chair Glenn Pastor said the contract, which the Nahant School Committee approved Tuesday, runs through fiscal year 2032 and includes scheduled annual percentage increases meant to provide cost certainty for both communities. "The first year of the contract...there'll be an increase of 3.25%," Pastor said, adding the rate is 3.25% in FY29, 3.5% in FY30 and FY31, and 3.75% in FY32. He estimated those increases will equal roughly $60,000 in the early years up to about $76,000 in the final year.

Superintendent Galishman clarified budget responsibilities during the meeting, saying Nahant will pay tuition for any out-of-district special-education placements and will cover transportation for Nahant students attending Swampscott schools. "If there was an out of district cost for a Nahant student...Nahant pays that tuition, and they pay for transportation as well," Galishman said.

Mister Contreras moved approval and Suzanne seconded; the committee approved the contract by voice vote. The chair called the ayes, and the motion passed unanimously.

The committee framed the agreement as a way to reduce budget volatility for both towns by setting predictable yearly increases rather than recalculating charges solely on annual enrollment fluctuations. The chair also noted a reopener clause if Nahant seeks to send additional grade levels to Swampscott in the future; any expansion would require decisions from Nahant’s school committee, superintendent and parents.

The committee did not record a roll-call vote; minutes will reflect the voice vote and the formal motion.