The fiscal year 2026 budget, presented by Superintendent Dr. Carol Cavanaugh, was a central topic. Dr. Cavanaugh detailed the financial strategy aimed at accommodating demographic shifts and student needs while preserving existing programs. This increase necessitated several staffing requests across district schools, including a 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) intensive special needs teacher at Marathon and Elmwood schools, driven by the unsustainable class sizes of up to twelve students. The committee recognized the importance of addressing the needs of vulnerable learners through additional instructional support.

The need for a 1.0 FTE assistant principal at Elmwood was driven by escalating student numbers, surpassing 650 at the elementary level. Concerns were raised about the administrative workload on principals, emphasizing the necessity for adequate instructional leadership to maintain high-quality teaching. Furthermore, a reading tutor at Hopkins School was proposed due to 27% of third graders not meeting the MCAS expectations, highlighting a pressing need for improved reading support before transitioning to middle school.

Additional staffing requests included a .4 FTE orchestra teacher at the high school and a .6 FTE computer science teacher. The committee underscored the importance of these additions to manage increasing class sizes and to provide relevant instruction aligned with current educational trends.

Budgetary constraints were evident in the discussion, with the operating budget for FY26 reflecting a 6.41% increase. The salary increase of $2.9 million accounted for a portion of this rise, driven by contractual obligations and new hires. The transportation budget emerged as a concern, with the new contract rate for 35 buses and an additional request for one more bus to alleviate capacity issues. Despite budgetary pressures, the committee members stressed the importance of equitable access to educational resources, with a commitment to ensuring that no student would be excluded from necessary services due to financial constraints.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the proposed adaptive playground, which has been a point of contention. The estimated cost of $1.243 million for the playground sparked debates over funding and location. The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) initially voted to fund $300,000 of the project’s cost, with members expressing varying opinions on whether the entire project should be located on school property. Concerns were raised about the town’s debt levels, with some members opposing additional financial burdens.

The discussion on the playground’s location was particularly contentious. Some members argued for alternative locations to secure additional funding, while others defended the Marathon School site as optimal for maximizing accessibility and usage for children in integrated preschool programs. The decision-making process involved considering 198 town-owned parcels before narrowing it down to 32, with the Marathon School location ultimately selected based on specific criteria.

The meeting also addressed policy updates, particularly concerning the school calendar and athletic concussions. A survey conducted to gather community feedback on the school calendar revealed mixed responses regarding non-mandated holidays and cultural observances. The committee acknowledged the need for a more comprehensive approach to community engagement and planned to approve the calendar for the 2025-2026 school year while exploring further modifications in subsequent years.