Norwell School Committee Approves $35.8M FY26 Budget

NORWELL — The Norwell School Committee voted Monday night to approve a $35.8 million operating budget for fiscal year 2026, a figure contingent on the passage of a town-wide override on May 17.

The proposed budget represents a 7.43% increase over FY25, with increased spending focused on special education, health services, and technology. Officials warned, however, that if the override fails, the district will face major staffing and program cuts across all grade levels.

“We are definitely going to lose our crossing guards and we just have to figure out how that works,” said Superintendent Matthew Keegan. “We are probably going to lose our SRO.”

The approved FY26 budget totals $35,879,542. It includes a $2.48 million increase over last year, which officials say is necessary to meet growing demands, including utility costs, special education tuitions, and aging technology.

Among the proposed additions are a fifth school nurse to meet recommended student-to-nurse ratios, a new assistant director of special education, and a business teacher for Norwell High School.

“All of our schools are over 500 and we are always trying to make sure that we are providing the best care possible for students with extraordinary health needs,” said Keegan, referring to the need for an additional nurse.

The district is also planning upgrades to elementary school iPads and high school teacher laptops to ensure continued access to digital platforms and state testing software.

The vote to approve the budget for town meeting was unanimous.

Override or Cuts

School officials spent a large portion of the meeting walking through the implications if the override fails. Under the non-override scenario, the school budget would be reduced to $33,298,062 — a level-funded budget equal to FY25. This would eliminate the entire $2.48 million increase.

Keegan detailed the specific cuts that would result from a failed override:

* Elimination of 24 staff positions

* Cuts to all freshman and JV sports teams (15 in total)

* Loss of two elementary librarians and two literacy specialists

* Cuts to technology replacements and student supplies

* Increased transportation fees

“Basically, we’re looking at 24 staffing positions. It comes out roughly $1.7 million,” Keegan said. “It is substantial.”

He also noted that the district would not be able to meet contractual salary obligations without the override and warned of a "razor’s edge" in funding for out-of-district special education placements.

The School Committee has posted the full presentation and list of proposed cuts on the district website. “We’ve worked hard to show this,” Keegan said. “It was very moving at the Select Board meeting. The cuts every town department needs to make are extremely difficult.”

$1.5M Feasibility Study Moves Forward

The committee also discussed a $1.5 million feasibility study related to potential renovations or reconstruction of Norwell High School, which was built in the early 1970s.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has accepted Norwell into the early stages of its program, making the town eligible for a potential reimbursement of up to 41.23% on major capital projects.

“We’re not asking the town to vote for a new high school,” said School Committee member Lisa A. DiFrisco. “We’re asking the town to stay within the state-mandated process that will allow us to get 41% plus funding from the state, whichever path we choose.”

Committee members emphasized that the feasibility study is a necessary step regardless of whether the town moves forward with a full rebuild or a significant renovation. The $1.5 million would be reimbursed if the project advances with MSBA support.

Superintendent Keegan noted that without the funding, Norwell would need to restart the application process from the beginning.

Public Engagement and Next Steps

With a series of public forums and town meetings scheduled ahead of the override vote, School Committee members stressed the importance of community understanding and participation.

“We are not doing this...carelessly,” said Chairperson Christina Kane. “We’re doing it with an enormous amount of consideration and heart and thought.”

Special Town Meeting will be held May 5. The override ballot vote is scheduled for May 17.

For more Norwell news, visit South Shore Times' Norwell homepage.