Duxbury Superintendent Danielle Klingaman unveiled a $46.4 million "restoration" budget for fiscal year 2027 on Wednesday, signaling an effort to stabilize a district still reeling from previous funding deficits. The proposal represents a 4.83 percent increase over the current year and aims to bring back key positions lost after last year’s failed override, including two elementary teachers and an instructional technology director. Klingaman told the committee that the district is currently operating with 18 fewer staff members than required, leading to larger class sizes and fewer electives. Our children only get one chance at their education. Let's make sure it's the very best we can give them, Klingaman stated, urging the community to protect the district’s academic standing.

The committee spent significant time debating the $2.6 million capital budget request, eventually deciding to strip $300,000 intended for new high school math curriculum to focus on more immediate infrastructure needs. Laurel Deacon expressed reservations about implementing new materials while leadership positions remain vacant, noting, I think the question to me is just there were definitely significant challenges in the middle school... I think it might be beneficial to just get another year of implementation under our belts. Matt Gambino echoed concerns regarding the "backbreaking pressure" on existing staff. If we're only restoring a fraction of what we lost, I'm not comfortable with that, Gambino said, questioning if the proposed staffing levels truly stabilized the student experience. Motion Made by Kellie Bresnehan to also add a vote to this discussion just to add a vote to the discussion so we can vote in the capital budget. Motion Passed 5-0

Financial details provided by Director of Business and Finance Lisa Whitcomb highlighted a refined $1.75 million feasibility study for the Alden School, a reduction from earlier $2 million estimates. Eligible expenses of the feasibility study are reimbursable after we sign a feasibility study agreement with the MSBA, Whitcomb explained, noting a potential reimbursement rate of over 38 percent. Kathryn Marshall, reporting on school council sessions, noted that the focus is the budget and encouraged members to prioritize school council agendas. Amidst the fiscal talk, the committee also approved a national competition trip for the varsity cheer team. Coach Jen Carley advocated for the trip, noting, This is a very hard routine and probably the hardest that we've ever had. Motion Made by Jen Weedon to approve the cheer team overnight trip to Orlando for the Year International competition in March. Motion Passed 5-0

Looking ahead, the district faces complex negotiations with the Duxbury Teachers Association. HR Director Tony Kitty emphasized that we need to agree to a contract that is sustainable while still providing an appropriate compensation for the teachers. Meanwhile, Special Education Director BJ Fearnley discussed managing rising out-of-district costs, stating, Anytime that we can provide those services within our four schools, we want to look at that and we want to explore that. To ensure community transparency, Kellie Bresnehan pushed for an interactive budget hearing in December. I think it would be interesting at least in our weekly updates to also make note of that to really inspire any community member who has an appetite to come in and share, Bresnehan noted. Motion Made by Kellie Bresnehan to amend the capital request that we vote on to $2,625,000, which would be reducing it by the $300,000 for the math curriculum. Motion Passed 5-0

The meeting was adjourned at 10:04 PM