School Committee Previews Fiscal 2027 Budget

School Committee · Meeting of January 22, 2026

Swampscott School Committee previewed a fiscal 2027 budget raising spending 3.96 percent, or $1.35 million. Vice Chair Glenn Pastor presided as staff detailed a budget request including $6.6 million in capital and an administration cost center rising 18.35 percent, driven by 71 anticipated educator "lane change" raises versus a typical 47. Officials touted a new contract provision limiting staff to one lane change per fiscal year, calling it "a big win for the school district." The budget adds a long-sought middle school health teacher and a fifth-grade teacher to ease class sizes near 25 students, while dropping a free-cash request for elementary utilities.

The committee also accepted a $10,000 donation from the Boston Bruins Foundation, unanimously approved. A public hearing and budget vote are set for February 5.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of January 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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