At Thursday’s School Committee meeting, administrators outlined a recommended fiscal year 2027 budget totaling $71,836,488, which is $3,966,833 (5.84%) more than FY 26. Attending the meeting were members of the Select Board, Appropriation Committee and Capital Improvement Committee.

Superintendent Evan Bishop described the budget proposal as “thoughtful and strategic,” driven by data. He said the budget “protects what makes Hopkinton special” and positions the district for “what comes next.”

Over the past seven years, the school budget increases have averaged 5.8%, Bishop noted. Historically, he said, the budget has not incorporated the special education (SPED) reserve fund or the cost of financial software the way this FY 27 plan does. Inclusion of those items adds $1.7 million before the budget process starts, he said.

Bishop talked about factors considered, such as a growing student population that speaks 46 languages with 24% of students not having English as their first language. He said drivers of the budget include enrollment, special education, transportation and contractual obligations, which the superintendent called “the people,” comprising the district.

Contractual obligations (salaries) will increase by $3.1 million in FY 27.

Staffing requests in the recommended budget total $535,762, with $87,856 of that amount previously approved by the School Committee.

School Committee chair Kyla McSweeney explained the positions approved were mandated and the result of new students moving in during the year and requiring special education services, for example.

The staffing requests are for a special education intensive teacher at Hopkins School, a related arts teacher at the Middle School, a reading interventionist at the middle school, a 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) teacher for pre-K and kindergarten at Marathon School, an assistant principal at the high school and a custodian at Elmwood School (then Charleswood School in the future).

The district also is requesting a stipend to host a co-op team for the gymnastics program at the high school. That expense ($14,889) as well as funding for paraprofessionals at the middle school and Marathon School previously were approved by the School Committee.

Susan Rothermich, assistant superintendent of finance and operations, said it is common for paraprofessionals to be brought in mid-year as people may leave to become teachers and/or students move into the district and need SPED services.

Last year, the district was able to pay for these items by applying attrition gains and IDEA grant funds, she said. The athletic revolving fund covered the gymnastics costs.

Bishop explained the reasoning behind the staff requests as keeping class sizes to a reasonable level, providing special education services in the district, supporting students whose needs are “too significant to ignore” but who do not require individualized education programs (IEPs), and meeting the needs of dual language learners early on.

The superintendent spoke about reducing caseloads of 648 students per assistant principal at the high school by adding a third administrator. Duties such as crisis management and instructional leadership would be more efficiently handled with reduced caseloads, he added.

Bishop said the emotional/social needs of students have increased, and behavioral referrals are up significantly.

There was discussion around per pupil expenditures at approximately $17,000 in Hopkinton with the state average around $20,000.

School Committee member Chris Masters noted, “The cost per pupil as low as it is … is not hurting students given how well they are doing.”

Select Board member Brian Herr, concurred, saying the schools run like an efficient business. He noted that the previous overall school budget increase was above 6%, because free cash funded the special education reserve during the last fiscal year.

“You are on the right path. We want the kids, teachers, parents and residents taken care of,” Herr added.

Select Board member Matt Kizner, who attended remotely, said he is impressed that when SPED and other needs increase, the district “runs toward supporting them.”

Select Board vice chair Shahidul Mannan urged the School Committee to continue with this trend of responding to growth and taking incremental steps over time to address upgrades.

With the proposed school budget factored in, the town faces a deficit of $322,000, which is lower than it has been in several years, according to officials.

There will be a public hearing on the school budget on Jan. 8, and the School Committee is scheduled to vote on it at its Jan. 22 meeting.