03/13/2026
Office of the Superintendent posted in Concord School District
Budget Update
Dear Families and Staff,
I want to take a moment to follow up on the budget situation facing our school district for the 2026–2027 school year.
These are not easy conversations to have, and I want to keep you informed about where things stand, what we are doing, and what comes next.
Where We Are
Our district is facing a significant budget challenge. While costs have continued to rise — including increases in salaries & benefits, health insurance and operational costs — we are simultaneously experiencing a dramatic loss in revenue. We are projecting a loss of approximately $3.4 million in state funding, a reduction in federal funding, and a decrease in the unreserved fund balance. When combined, these factors mean that even if we made no changes whatsoever to our spending, our local taxpayers would be facing a tax rate increase of approximately 11% — simply due to the loss of outside revenue.
The Board of Education has set a goal of limiting the impact on the local tax rate to 5%. Closing that gap requires difficult decisions, and the Board has been working hard, across multiple budget work sessions, to find every possible savings before turning to the areas that matter most: our people and our programs. FY27 Budget Snapshot
What Has Been Done So Far
The Board has approved approximately $6.8 million in non-personnel reductions. These reductions were found by carefully reviewing every category across every school and department — supplies, subscriptions, contracted services, technology, and more. Central office staff have worked evenings and weekends to find every possible dollar before any conversation about staffing.
Personnel represents the largest portion of our budget, and it is where the most difficult conversations are now taking place. The Board is considering a range of options across all levels — classroom, support, and administrative — and no final decisions have been made. We are looking closely at enrollment, class sizes, and ratios at the administrative level. The Board has been clear that following our guidelines for class sizes is critical, and the last area reductions should be made.
I want to acknowledge something that sometimes goes unsaid: our teachers do not work alone. Our paraprofessionals, custodians, food service workers, office staff, and administrators are all part of what makes our schools work. They support students, teachers, and families every single day. The potential impact of this budget touches every corner of our district, and every one of our staff members deserves to know that their contributions are seen and valued.
What Comes Next
This process is not finished. No final decisions have been made. The Board approved a preliminary budget on March 9 to be posted for public review and comment. Before any budget is adopted, there will be:
Two public hearings where community members, families, students, and staff are invited to speak
Additional board work sessions to review enrollment data, technology needs, and outstanding questions
The Board is scheduled to vote on the final budget on Tuesday, March 31. All meetings are open to the public and are streamed on the district’s YouTube channel. Additional meeting dates are listed at the end of this email. The budget and meeting materials are available on the district website: Concord School District - Budget FY27.
Your voice matters in this process. I encourage you to attend a public hearing, reach out to your Board members, and stay engaged. The Board is listening.
These are difficult conversations. I appreciate the Board’s deep respect and care for every person in this district, from our custodial staff to our classroom teachers to our administrators.
Thank you to our staff for what you do for the children of Concord every day. We are working as hard as we can to protect jobs, programs, and the students you serve.
To our families and community, thank you for your support.
We will continue to keep you informed every step of the way.
With gratitude,
Tim
Budget Meeting Dates
March 16 – Enrollments| Board Room at 38 Liberty Street – 5:30pm
March 18 – Follow Up on Budget Adjustments, Open Enrollment | Board Room at 38 Liberty Street – 5:30pm
March 23 – Public Hearing | Mill Brook Multi-Purpose Room – 6:00pm
March 25 – Public Hearing | Board Room at 38 Liberty Street – 6:00pm
March 30 – Open Session | Board Room at 38 Liberty Street – 5:30pm
March 31 – Finalize Preliminary FY27 Budget | Board Room at 38 Liberty Street – 5:30pm
