FY27 budget highlights pressures on Hingham schools

HINGHAM – Hingham Public Schools leaders opened budget season during their Jan. 26 meeting with a detailed overview of the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, outlining how a 3.5% spending cap is shaping decisions as the district faces increasing special education needs and staffing pressures.

Superintendent Kathryn Roberts told the School Committee that the district’s operating budget is governed by a four-year memorandum of understanding with the town that limits annual increases to 3.5%.

“Budget season can be a stressful time for our community and staff,” Roberts said. “It is an important process though in that we have a very broad and inclusive process with stakeholders so we can land on a budget that best supports student learning and student success.”

The proposed FY27 operating budget totals $72,847,180, a figure set under the MOU and representing a 3.5% increase over the current year, according to Executive Director of Business and Support Services Aisha Oppong.

“That comes directly from the MOU,” Oppong said, adding that the cap restricts flexibility as certain costs continue to rise.

District officials emphasized that personnel costs account for the majority of spending, with about 80% of the budget tied to salaries and benefits. Contracted services make up roughly 18%, leaving little room for discretionary reductions.

“It’s very tough in terms of where we can make changes or reductions given the tight budget times that we are facing,” Oppong said.

Special education remains one of the largest budget drivers. Executive Director of Student Services Dr. Christine Panarese said the number of students with individualized education plans has increased steadily in recent years.

“Between 2021 and 2025, we had quite an increase in students with disabilities on IEPs,” Panarese said. “Along with that increase comes the extra support services that are going to be needed.”

As of January, about 20% of students districtwide have IEPs, with additional students supported through Section 504 plans. Panarese said those needs require additional staffing, contracted services and out-of-district placements.

Oppong said the district is projecting a town share of about $1 million in FY27 related to special education costs under the MOU, noting that the estimate could change depending on final state reimbursement levels.

“We can only estimate based on where we are so far,” Oppong said.

To stay within the spending cap, district leaders said they have relied on retirements, reconfiguring positions and other efficiencies rather than broad reductions. Over the past three years, more than 26 secondary-level positions have been eliminated through attrition, according to Roberts.

“We really do everything we can to prioritize student-facing positions,” Roberts said. “And to minimize reductions, particularly of those student-facing roles.”

At the elementary level, Roberts said no staffing cuts are proposed for FY27, citing growing enrollment and the need to maintain class size limits and academic supports.

“We were not able to make any cuts at the elementary level and maintain our general education, special education and MTSS programming,” she said.

Fees and tuition continue to play a role in the district’s overall financial picture. Roberts noted that Hingham remains one of 15 districts statewide that charge tuition for full-day kindergarten, including several neighboring South Shore communities.

“I do continue to rely on tuitions, particularly kindergarten tuitions, to meet our operating budget,” Roberts said.

Oppong clarified that kindergarten tuition revenue is restricted to supporting the kindergarten program itself and cannot be used for other purposes.

“We can only use those funds towards full-day kindergarten, and that’s how it is being utilized,” Oppong said.

The district has also relied on revolving accounts, grants and energy savings to offset costs. Officials cited reduced utility expenses at the new Foster Elementary School, savings tied to electric school buses and greater use of in-house expertise for professional development.

School Committee members raised concerns about long-term sustainability. Chair Jen Benham cautioned against overreliance on one-time revenue sources.

“These revolving funds are buying us time, not sustainability,” Benham said.

The FY27 budget remains under development, with additional School Committee meetings scheduled in the coming weeks to review technology, facilities and capital needs before a final proposal is presented.

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