School Committee OKs $35.5 million FY27 budget

School Committee · Meeting of February 5, 2026

Swampscott School Committee approved a $35.48 million FY27 budget and opted out of school choice for 2026-27. Members voted 4-0 on both items after Superintendent Cheryl flagged roughly $382,000 in added net state aid but warned collaborative tuition fees could rise by a "double-digit" percentage. The committee voted 3-1 to let Big Blue Bargains expand its thrift store into two Clark School classrooms despite security concerns raised by members.

Facilities presenter Max Casper detailed deteriorating middle school systems, including a 1970s-era generator and heating that couldn't clear 60 degrees, as the district weighs filing a Massachusetts School Building Authority Statement of Interest before an April 17 deadline. No vote was taken on that item. Donations totaling more than $18,000, including $15,000 from the Spellios family, were also accepted.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of February 5, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.