School Committee approves FY27 budget on voice vote

School Committee · Meeting of April 14, 2026

Hatfield School Committee approved a level-funded FY27 school budget while cutting 5.5 positions. Chair Christy Boudreau presided over the hearing, where administrators said the plan asks the town for no increase and saves an estimated $426,850. The elementary school will go to one kindergarten and one first-grade class.

Out-of-district special education costs are expected to rise about half a million dollars, at an average of $133,000 per student. Dr. Driscoll said "we have right-sized our staff and then some" in answering why deeper cuts would not work. The committee voted by voice, with no opposition heard, and asked administrators to explore a third preschool room for 13 waitlisted children.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Hatfield's community access TV: School Committee meeting, April 14, 2026
• The complete report: 703 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of April 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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