The Subcommittee to Study the Minuteman School convened on March 27, 2025, to discuss the preliminary budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting highlighted the commitment to providing state-of-the-art vocational technical education while addressing financial challenges and priorities.

The preliminary budget for the Minuteman School is set at approximately $32.5 million, reflecting a 2.99% increase from the previous year. A significant portion of this budget, just over $2.2 million, pertains to Needham's assessment, which has risen by 22%. This increase is closely tied to a 21% rise in the four-year rolling average of student enrollment.

Key budget drivers include staffing costs, which are influenced by a 3% collective bargaining agreement and additional costs associated with teachers' career progression. The committee is currently negotiating a new contract, with the current agreement set to expire at the end of FY 2026.

The budget also addresses rising costs in supplies and materials, particularly for vocational education, where inflation has impacted the prices of essential materials like wood and metal. To mitigate these costs, the school plans to utilize student skills in metalworking to produce some materials in-house.

Insurance costs have also risen due to recent claims, although health insurance costs have been stabilized thanks to a favorable reserve situation within the Mass Bay Healthcare Trust Fund. Transportation costs are expected to increase by over 5% with a new contract awarded to North Suburban Transportation.

A notable focus of the meeting was the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) funding, with a one-time increase of $300,000 planned for this year. This increase aims to address a significant unfunded liability of approximately $22 million, with a strategy to raise contributions by 5% annually moving forward.

The committee also discussed capital needs, estimating around $153,000 for various building improvements in FY 2026. A long-term capital plan developed by an external consultant will guide future funding strategies.

Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of balancing educational quality with fiscal responsibility as the Minuteman School prepares for the upcoming budget year. The next steps will involve further discussions on the budget details and the implications for member towns.