Stoneham School Committee Approves $46 Million FY27 Budget Unanimously

STONEHAM — April 30, 2026 — Stoneham School Committee unanimously approves a $46 million FY27 operating budget and names a permanent finance chief. The committee voted 5-0 Thursday to adopt the $46,018,905 fiscal year 2027 spending plan, the first budget fully shaped by the December 2025 override that delivered $6,558,662 in new revenue to the schools; Superintendent Dr. Sarah DeFrancisco reported that $5,896,721 of that sum has been allocated to bring employees to mid-market compensation through newly settled contracts with teachers, educational support professionals, and secretaries. Diane Johnson, who joined the district on an interim basis in October, was unanimously appointed permanent Director of Finance and Operations, presenting a more granular budget breakdown that separated school-center salary costs and estimated $2,877,828 in circuit breaker and $646,988 in IDEA grant funding for out-of-district special education tuition. Demographic consultant Tim Ammon presented enrollment projections through 2031 showing district-wide stability but cautioned that the 2029-31 window will require closer monitoring, and DeFrancisco said no large-scale redistricting is needed now. The committee also voted unanimously to recommend favorable action on Town Meeting Articles 5 and 6, the latter covering a Colonial Park roof study, a South School chiller study, and a $252,850 Chromebook replacement cycle.