HUDSON – Hudson Public Schools’ number for a Proposition 2 ½ override is $3.3 million.
School leaders said this figure came after an effort to cut $1.1 million from the 2026 fiscal year budget.
On Dec. 17, Superintendent Brian Reagan said the projected budget gap started at $4.4 million. This was a result of a combination of a 51% increase in the transportation contract, a 24% increase in out-of-district tuition and personnel expense increases of 3% to 3.5%.
These budget drivers are outpacing the town appropriation of a 2.5% increase over the 2025 fiscal year funding, he said.
Although they are working with a collaborative, he said, “We are a bit worried about out of district transportation, which is a little less within our control.”
RELATED CONTENT: School Committee prepares for Proposition 2 1/2 override
With collaborative support, they can share transportation services, he said.
He said that personnel represent 85% of the school district budget, and they are seeing a 3.5% increase due to cost-of-living adjustments and teachers moving up salary steps within the budget.
“All this leads to the need to ask the residents to consider a Proposition 2 1/2 override in May of 2025,” said Reagan.
To this end, he said the district committed to reducing the budget by $1.1 million. This process took several months and resulted in the reduction of two buses to a net decrease of $200,000 and the elimination of 12 full-time equivalent positions, mostly on the administrative side.
He said they want to make a request with the reality that residents may be “stretched financially” right now.
“We want to be respectful of that and try to present something to the community that they can accept and respect and hopefully support,” he said.
In related news, Hudson High School parents Beth Langlois and Shawna Weston spoke about their group Together for Hudson and how they are spreading the word about the Proposition 2 1/2 override.
“We’ve come together to show support for a Proposition 2 1/2 override in the spring. In light of the significant budget gap for the next fiscal year for both Hudson Public Schools and the town of Hudson, our group felt it was important to organize and begin rallying behind the community and this important initiative,” Langlois said.
She understands that there may be some apprehension about a potential Proposition 2 1/2 override, and they hope to connect with community members about how the schools and the students in particular contribute to the community.
For more information on Together for Hudson, visit www.togetherforhudson.com. There is also a Facebook page and email address [email protected] for the group.
Farley principal position to be filled
During the meeting, Reagan said a search process will be needed to fill the Farley Elementary School principal and director of student services positions.
The goal is to appoint someone for the principal position, which will be posted from Feb. 3 to 24, by March 24 and Feb. 24 for the student services position, which will be posted from Jan. 2 to 23. However, he said they “could adjust a little bit.”
There will be an interview panel composed of parents, student services staff, central office administrators and a School Committee member for the director position, and a panel with parents, composed of Farley staff and faculty and building administrators for the Farley principal job.
Parent and Chair of the Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) Cheryl Langill spoke to the need for SEPAC participation in the searches for the new Farley principal and director of student services.
She noted a member of SEPAC will be included in the director search, but said they should also be a part of the Farley principal search. In addition, she recommended that a representative from the English Learners Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC) be included in both search processes.
“I just wanted to express the need for that representation,” she said.
From a special education perspective, she said it can be more difficult to diagnose an English language learner student with a learning disability, and some meanings may be not understood.
Reagan said he had not been aware of the SEPAC participation in the past in searches for a principal position.
“We’ll make sure that we do that as well,” he said.
He said, “I’ll work with folks around the ELPAC piece. We’ll make sure there’s appropriate representation.”
