January 15, by Carol Britton Meyer (graphic courtesy of HPS)
Supt. of Schools Katie Roberts presented the projected $70.4 million fiscal 2026 preliminary school operating budget to the school committee recently, with several more meetings to come. Citizen attendance and feedback are welcome.
The proposed budget figure above was reached by applying proposed offsets (revolving funds/grants), reductions, and town memorandum of understanding contributions (see explanation of the reductions and MOU below) to the initial $78.6 million level services figure. The fiscal 2025 operating budget totaled $70 million.
Of that amount, a gross special education budget of $23.9 million is projected. “We anticipate $4,862,137 of special education offsets (IDEA — Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — circuit breaker, MOU carve-out), that result in net special education spending of $18,996,350,” Roberts told the Hingham Anchor in response to a follow-up email.
Possible cuts proposed
The 79-page presentation related to the FY2026 proposed budget — including possible cuts at the elementary, middle school, and high school level — the budget process, timeline, priorities, enrollment trends, special education initiatives and enrollment data, average class sizes, and next steps, with a focus on school building and district budgets.
Hingham Public School enrollments decreased from 4,262 students in 2020 to 3,616 in 2025.
Key budget drivers are the continued need for specialized behavioral supports and other specialized services for special education students and an increase in out-of-district special education tuitions and services.
“Out-of-district special education private schools tuitions are set by the Massachusetts Operational Services Division (OSD). For 2025-2026, the OSD-approved increase is 3.67%,” Roberts explained. “However, in addition to this standard increase, approved private special education programs can also apply to OSD for ‘program reconstruction,’ which allows the private school to increase the tuition beyond 3.67%.”
For 2025-2026, high program reconstruction rates significantly impact the tuition costs for some of the programs that Hingham resident students attend, according to Roberts.
Annual operating budget growth capped
Under a four-year memorandum of understanding signed in March 2023 by the school committee, select board, advisory committee, superintendent of schools, and the town administrator, annual operating budget growth for the town and school department is capped at 3.5% for FY25, FY26, FY27, and FY28.
The MOU articulated the understanding that increased costs in personnel, special education, and energy would result in deficits in FY 25-28, according to Roberts.
Also, the MOU allows the schools to request increased funding for specialized categories of special education costs (e.g., out-of-district tuitions and related services) above a 2% threshold.
“For FY26, we will be requesting an additional $1,236,799 for such special education costs under the terms of the MOU special education ‘carve-out,'” Roberts explained.
In FY25, the town allocated an additional $1.4 million to accommodate out-of-district tuition and related specialized student services.
Proposed reductions
Proposed elementary budget reductions include the elimination of 4 full-time Spanish teachers ($408,847); one full-time general education teacher at East School ($65,286); a full-time writing specialist ($65,286); and four interventionists — one per elementary school ($189,880).
Proposed middle school efficiencies/reductions include a full-time reading interventionist ($46,087), and the retirement of a grade 6 social studies teacher, with no replacement planned ($126,464).
In addition, the following high school efficiencies/reductions are proposed: chemistry teacher retirement, with no replacement planned ($115,636); English language arts teacher (unfilled leave), $104,367; an administrative assistant ($41,200), and an $81,829 reduction in the math department.
A restructuring of the special education administration is also proposed at a savings of $154,099.
In all, $1.6 million in cuts related to the elimination of 10 elementary positions, 2.4 at the middle school, 4 at the high school, and one special education position, along with a $30,000 cut in the professional development budget are proposed.
Community participation encouraged
“During the January 27 budget meeting, we will revisit some of the initial proposals [included in the proposed budget] with the school committee,” Roberts said. “We welcome community participation in the budget meetings and appreciate engagement in the process. All budget meeting presentations and accessory documents will be available on the district’s website.”
The following school budget-related meetings are scheduled:
⦁ Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m. — technology, facilities, athletics, and transportation;
⦁ Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m., budget updates;
⦁ Jan. 29, 7 p.m., capital outlay meeting;
⦁ Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m., joint school committee, select board, and advisory committee meeting;
⦁ Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m. public school committee hearing, votes on budget;
⦁ Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m., budget presentation to advisory committee;
⦁ Feb. 25, 7 p.m. joint session with school committee, select board, advisory committee, and capital outlay to hear capital recommendations.
Check the town website calendar for meeting details.
For Fiscal 2026 budget details and the Jan. 13 proposed preliminary budget presentation, go to https://www.hinghamschools.org/page/budget-documents/