The Duxbury Finance Committee reached a pivotal milestone on Tuesday, voting to support a school budget that aims to eliminate tuition for full-day kindergarten while restoring several critical staff positions lost in previous budget cycles. Superintendent Danielle Klingaman presented the district’s "real needs" budget, emphasizing that the schools are currently in survival mode following the loss of 18 positions last year. She noted that while enrollment has stabilized at approximately 200 students per grade, the consolidation of classes has limited course selections and increased teacher workloads. We have felt the impact of the budget reductions that were the result of the override not happening last year, Klingaman said, adding that the proposed budget focuses on the greatest impacts to students, including elementary class sizes and middle school math intervention.

The committee engaged in a robust debate regarding the $450,000 cost to fund universal free full-day kindergarten, a service that has historically been tuition-based in Duxbury. Member Charles J. Weilbrenner argued that the current system is fundamentally unfair to younger students. My feeling on this is that the kindergarten should be a principle; it should be the same as having a junior or senior in high school, Weilbrenner said. Mark Hokanson questioned the trade-offs involved in the $812,946 supplemental budget request, asking, How do you weigh the $450,000 in cost it takes to bring back full day kindergarten versus repairing some of the damage that’s been done as we lose positions? Superintendent Klingaman responded that the district believes kindergarten is the foundation for all future success, including the high school’s recent platinum AP recognition.

Financial technicalities also took center stage as the committee worked to align school "offsets" with town accounting practices. Finance Director Mary MacKinnon explained that the school department's use of the term offset encompasses both new revenues and existing fund balances, such as revolving funds. Jackson S. Kent., Jr. noted the importance of this clarity for future planning, stating, We’re going to learn a lot about what works, and I think it would be really important for us all to come back together to take a look at how we can fine-tune and improve it. Ashley Maher pushed for deeper transparency on gross revenues, noting, Every dollar that you don’t apply, then you’re asking for it to come out of the town budget. Al Hoban, drawing on his background as a CPA, warned of vulnerabilities in state and federal aid, telling the group, What concerns me today is what’s happening in Washington is going to affect the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and it’s going to affect the Chapter 70 funds.

The committee ultimately moved to approve both the baseline and supplemental school budgets to provide stability for the upcoming fiscal year. Friend S. Weiler, Sr. highlighted the urgency of the situation, stating, We’ve cut into the bone. We’ve taken away instructional staff and things that I would like to see with the kids. Kathleen Glynn expressed concern over the long-term compounding effects if the funding is not secured, asking for a clearer picture of what a fiscal year 2028 "cliff" might look like. Town Manager René Read expressed relief at the committee's consensus, remarking, Total alignment. Once again, congratulations folks. Earlier in the meeting, Motion Made by Friend S. Weiler, Sr. to "approve the minutes of December 9 as amended." Vote Passed 8-0. For the primary school funding, Motion Made by Al Hoban to "approve 812,946" for the supplemental budget differential. Vote Passed 8-0. Following that, Motion Made by Al Hoban to "approve 45,661,555" for the total school operating budget. Vote Passed 8-0. The meeting was adjourned at [TIME]