The district is proposing a $122.3 million budget for next year, a 4.55% increase. Acton would pay $82.8 million (up 3.75%) and Boxborough would pay $17.7 million (up 5.57%). But as you can see there are NO CONCRETE plans for savings to avoid another override in the future. So, there is all of this disruption just to not really solve anything! The School Committee has failed you and the community. The School Committee votes March 19, then Acton Town Meeting votes May 4 and Boxborough votes May 19.
Why is the budget going up?
Three things the district has little control over are driving most of the increase. Health insurance premiums are jumping 14.4%, adding about $1.56 million. Out-of-district special education tuitions are up 16%, adding about $756,000 — the state sets those rates, not the district. And contractual salary increases (cost-of-living raises required by union contracts) add to personnel costs. These are costs the district is legally or contractually obligated to pay.
What's happening with staff?
The district has cut a net 43 full-time positions over the past five years. This year, the reorganization is eliminating 22 positions (including 11 elementary classroom teachers, 3 art/music/PE teachers, 2 principals, and a nurse) while adding back about 17.5 positions focused on special education, mental health counselors, and behavioral support staff. The net cut this year is about 4.5 positions. The pattern over five years is clear: general education and administrative staff have been significantly reduced while special education support staff have grown, because the district is legally required to provide those services.
Why is this happening?
Two forces are colliding. Enrollment has dropped 11.5% since 2015 (from 5,658 to 5,005 students), which means fewer kids in classrooms. But the students who remain have more complex needs — the percentage of "high needs" students (special education, English learners, and low-income students) has grown from 23% to 33% of all students. So the district has fewer students overall but needs more specialized (and expensive) staff per student. Meanwhile, Acton is near its tax levy limit, which caps how much revenue the town can raise.
What does the reorganization save?
By consolidating elementary schools into K–3 and 4–6 grade-banded buildings, the district reduces the number of principals, classroom teachers, specialists, and support staff it needs. Those savings are being redirected into two new elementary school counselors, expanded special education programming, and a new K–8 curriculum coordinator. Without the reorganization, the district says the budget increase would have been even higher or the cuts to programs much deeper.
The warning for future years
The Superintendent says the district actually needs 5.25% to 5.5% annual budget increases over the next three years just to maintain current services. The 4.55% increase this year was only possible because of the reorganization savings. Without changes to state funding or local revenue, further cuts are likely. The district also reduced its contribution to the retiree health benefits trust fund by $553,000 this year to keep the assessment increase manageable — a short-term fix that pushes costs into the future.
Key dates
- Budget Hearing: March 5
- School Committee vote: March 19
- Acton Town Meeting: May 4
- Boxborough Town Meeting: May 19