Principals outline FY27 needs: ELL support, science lab upgrades and safety equipment

Principals from Winthrop High School, Winthrop Middle School and the grade/elementary school presented FY27 budget requests focused on instructional materials, safety and shared positions.

High School Principal Dufour described needs for replenishing science lab supplies and equipment for new electives such as photography and theater, replacing aging instruments, and sustaining programs like Screenagers. He said the high school is seeking a district‑shared 1.5 English‑language‑learner (ELL) position to support multilingual learners across the three buildings.

Middle School Principal Laurie Smell described a conservative budget with increased contracted interpretation services to serve two families requiring interpreters, higher costs for science lab tables (about $10,000 per lab), and a staffing proposal to repurpose an EdTech 3 position into a halftime EdTech/library role plus a halftime math interventionist to meet student needs.

Principal Violet said the elementary budget increases reflect library services and materials—noting nearly 9,000 circulation events in 2025—and expanding translation and interpretation using Propio to support growing multilingual families.

Superintendent Dr. Foley summarized district‑level lines including maintenance and capital improvements (a proposed increase of $50,000 to a baseline $100,000 maintenance fund) to cover projects such as a grade‑school chairlift, roofing work and sealing the high‑school parking lot. Dr. Foley also noted benefit changes and staff hires increased the district FY27 expenditure request to a 5.4% increase overall and that the district currently has about 105 students on IEPs with an expected rise toward 110.

Board members asked for comparative per‑pupil cost graphs and supported getting a budget estimate for adding one teacher at the grade school given enrollment trends.