Listen to the School Committee Final Comments from the May 11th meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.
We also have a separate article on the recognition of 4th grade students, CLICK HERE.
School Budget passed at School Committee Meeting – Now on to City Council
Listen to the entire meeting on any device, CLICK PLAY.
The Gardner School Committee meeting held on May 11, 2026, primarily focused on the presentation and unanimous approval of the FY2027 school budget. The district finds itself in a paradoxical position: it is achieving “outlier” academic success—particularly at the high school level—while operating on one of the leanest budgets in the Commonwealth. Gardner currently ranks 14th from the bottom out of 215 districts in terms of funding, spending only 101.3% of the state-mandated minimum net school spending, compared to a statewide average of 139%.
Despite significant increases in “high needs” student populations (low income, disabilities, and English Language Learners), the district faces a $793,669 revenue shortfall for FY2027. To address this, the administration has implemented a drastic reorganization, including the closure of Gardner Academy as a standalone entity and its relocation to Gardner High School. This move, along with other personnel reductions, resulted in the cutting of 18 positions (reduced to 10 actual staff losses through attrition) to offset skyrocketing costs in transportation (up 220% since 2024) and health insurance (up 62% since 2024).