The Northborough School Committee’s FY26 pre‑K–8 budget, approved by the committee in February and presented to the Northborough Appropriations Committee on March 4, would increase spending by 3.8686% to a recommended $30,244,173.

The presentation — led by the district superintendent’s team and Becky Pellegrino, assistant superintendent for finance — described the proposal as a level‑services budget with incremental additions. The approved budget includes one new mathematics specialist for elementary schools, a phased second phase of science curriculum purchasing (partially funded), and a 0.5 full‑time‑equivalent occupational therapist. It does not include two assistant principals for the elementary schools, two health educators, or a full proposed counseling expansion the school committee had discussed earlier in its priority list.

District leaders framed the budget with the district’s Vision 2026 strategic plan and data on shifting student needs. The presentation noted enrollment trends that include a 64% five‑year increase in economically disadvantaged students and a 16% increase in English learners over a recent period; the district said overall pre‑K–8 enrollment has plateaued for the next five to 10 years absent large development.

Transportation presented a significant pressure: the district said its five‑year transportation contract ended and two bidders responded to the procurement. One bid was about 90% higher than the current contract; the other was about 45% higher. Officials described that range as a market correction driven by fuel, supply and contractor availability and said the change will materially affect operations budgets.

The approved FY26 plan also includes modest support for capital and building maintenance, solar installations at Lincoln Street and Proctor to offset energy costs, and negotiations‑era placeholders for collective‑bargaining increases. Becky Pellegrino told the committee the district’s initial October requests were 10.89% over FY25, later reduced by nearly $1.5 million (largely via circuit‑breaker and other offsets) to arrive at the approved figure.

School‑committee chair Kelly Gannett and district leaders told Appropriations members that the committee will continue to evaluate the budget in light of ongoing health‑insurance negotiations at the regional level, and they noted the Northborough school committee would vote on final items at a public meeting scheduled for March 5. The PreK–8 presentation closed with an outline of next steps — public hearing dates and continued town‑level collaboration on the town budget model.