The Barrington School Committee voted to approve an amended fiscal year 2026 budget that restores $534,000 to school staffing, returning multiple classroom and support positions that had been removed during earlier budget deliberations.

School administration presented the recommendation for how to allocate the funds and the committee approved the amended budget in open session. The restored items include a mix of classroom teachers and instructional support staff meant to return some positions that were previously reduced or unfilled.

Administration urged the committee to accept a package of positions funded by the $534,000. The recommendation included one high school teacher assistant in general education, one high school library assistant, 0.5 middle school library assistant, one middle school art teacher, 0.2 elementary art teacher, 0.7 elementary physical education teacher, one Grade 3 teacher, 0.5 multilingual learner (MLL) teacher and one high school math teacher. Committee members said the restorations move staffing closer to pre-cut levels in the classroom tier while some central-office reductions will remain in place.

Committee members and administration also discussed that although many classroom positions would be restored, a remaining structural deficit will require further adjustments next year. Administration noted a projected roughly $1 million shortfall that must be addressed in the following fiscal year.

Chair (unnamed) called the motion to approve the amended FY26 Barrington public schools budget; the motion passed in open session with the recorded outcome “Passes 4 0.”

The committee did not provide details in the public presentation about which layoffs or central-office reductions had been previously approved in March; one committee member said that had they known the extent of earlier cuts at the time they approved the budget in March, they would not have approved it. That concern, the member said, will be handled in executive session as appropriate.

Committee members asked administration to continue providing fiscal updates and to prepare for the next-year budget challenge so the public and the committee can plan for the projected deficit.

The committee is scheduled to meet again in August; administration said it will provide further financial details and likely staffing implications ahead of that meeting.