Community Update
Marblehead School Committee | February 9th, 2026
The District Budget Proposal for FY27 has been released. Please take some time to review the proposed budget here, including an introductory letter from Superintendent Robidoux, and a presentation on the challenges and decisions that built the budget.
The FY27 budget is the most significant challenge facing our schools today. The town directed the district to prepare a "level-funded" budget, which means we are asked to operate next year with the exact same $49.1M appropriation we received this year.
The Reality: Rising Costs vs. Flat Funding
To simply maintain our current staff, programs, and services, our budget naturally needs to grow by $2.6M. This is driven by standard contractual obligations and the rising cost of utilities and supplies. The administration worked to protect taxpayers by covering $1M of that increase using outside government grants and state aid. However, even with that support, we still face a $1.6M gap to meet the town’s requirement for a level-funded budget. This shortfall is what necessitates the difficult reductions currently being proposed by the Superintendent.
The Proposed Cuts
In the Superintendent's budget proposal, cuts were kept as far away from the students as possible— but at this funding level, classroom impacts are unavoidable.
Exhausting Efficiencies: Before looking at classrooms, the administration team cut over $769,000 by freezing supply budgets, renegotiating leases, and shifting administrative costs to outside grants.
Reducing Teaching Staff: The administration team identified a total reduction of 6.95 full-time teaching positions. While the district is working to achieve this through attrition—meaning roles will not be filled after retirements or resignations—it ultimately results in fewer teachers in the buildings next year.
Impact on Student Support: Proposed reductions include a General Education Elementary Instructional Assistant and a 40% reduction in hours for a Speech-Language Pathologist. The plan also calls for cutting a vacant ABA Coordinator position and a Math Interventionist role.
Infrastructure & Operations: To close the gap, the administration is cutting a Maintenance Worker position and reducing the facilities budget. While a request has been made for critical needs like Wireless Access Points through the town’s capital planning process, these items remain at risk if not funded outside the operating budget.
Why This Matters for the Future
Every possible efficiency has been found. There are no "painless" cuts left for future years. Continued level-funding into FY28 and beyond would require reductions that would fundamentally change the educational experience in Marblehead.
Stay Informed & Share Your Thoughts
Your voice and perspective are vital as we navigate these difficult choices.
Superintendent Robidoux is meeting with PTOs and other stakeholder groups to explain the scope of these challenges and to hear community feedback. Please attend their meetings!
Several public meetings will also address the budget:
February 5: A full budget presentation was given to the School Committee. You can watch the presentation on our YouTube page, and this link will bring you directly to the start of the presentation.
February 26: SC’s Public Budget Hearing - We will be meeting to discuss the budget in the MHS library on Thursday, February 26th at 6pm. Please join us in-person or virtually to share your feedback. The meeting will be posted on the town website.
May 4: The budget will be voted by residents at Marblehead’s annual Town Meeting.
If you have any questions for the Committee about the FY27 budget, please email us at schoolcommittee@marbleheadschools.org.