On April 4, the Waltham Public School Committee reviewed the preliminary budget for Fiscal Year 2026, marking a significant step forward in planning for the upcoming school year. The meeting included reflections on the budgeting process and the district’s priorities for the coming fiscal year.

Chad Mazza, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services, presented the preliminary budget, detailing the development timeline that began in November 2024 and concluded on April 2, where multiple leadership meetings and budget workshops were held. The district’s budget priorities emphasized the need to focus first on the classroom, ensuring that all students receive equitable academic, social and emotional support. It is designed to align with the district’s mission and vision, grounded in data, to ensure compliance while promoting innovation and growth while underscoring the importance of providing each classroom with the necessary staffing and materials to meet these objectives.

Superintendent of Schools, Marisa Mendonsa, shared similar sentiments, thanking principals and directors for sharing insights into the needs, expectations and goals of their schools. She emphasized that the focus on student needs aims to “improve the educational outcomes for our students for years to come.”

The proposed FY26 budget is anticipated to increase by 9.94%, rising from $115,242,653 in FY25 to $126,695,969. While there is an anticipated overall increase in the proposed budget, there were some reductions, many of which pertain to  Waltham High School. Reductions in staffing includes the Out of School Time Manager position, leading to a budgetary impact of $71,000, and funding for mediation services was also reduced. Additionally, the school would lose three of its five security monitor personnel, retaining only one at the front door and one at the back door, resulting in a savings of $91,500. Other cuts include the removal of the underutilized Coordinator of Tiered Interventions and Supports and the full repurposing of the Academic Support Specialist position, with $65,000 being redirected to fund a new Restorative Practices Coordinator role.

In addition to more funding, relieved costs that resulted from eliminated positions will be repurposed for new positions throughout the district aimed at addressing the needs of the district’s students. The proposed budget seeks the addition of English as a Second Language Teachers, distributed across six schools, at a total cost of $642,804. Other positions include a Special Education Teacher at McDevitt Middle School, at a cost of $90,920, as well as a Learning Through Functional Experiences Teacher at Waltham High School to increase program flexibility. Additionally, Mazza noted during the April 2 presentation that the need for a Reading Teacher within specialized education is growing at the high school. The addition of a second teacher is intended to ensure that all students receive the specialized instruction they require. The district also is aiming to double the number of School Adjustment Counselors, reducing the student to counselor ratio, responding to the increased need for social, emotional and academic support services. In the elementary schools, the budget proposes adding additional English Language Art Interventionists in all elementary schools and Math Interventionists for all schools except Whittemore. Mazza says these positions would cost about $318,220 and $272,760, respectively, and are intended to provide additional support to students struggling with literacy and math skills.

Repurposed funding from the eliminated or reduced security monitor and mediation positions will be redistributed to new Dean of Student positions at the Waltham High School. The budget anticipates the positions to cost $363,680. According to Superintendent Mendonsa, the Dean of Students would be a licensed teacher and member of the Waltham Educators Association. They would not serve as administrators, but rather act as “supporters of school culture” and alleviate some of the disciplinary responsibilities from assistant principals. The Dean of Students would focus on addressing low-to medium-level disciplinary issues, which currently result in around 40 to 60 office referrals per day.

Other new non-administrative roles include two Special Education Paraprofessionals, a Reading Interventionist at Waltham High School, a Restorative Practices Coordinator at Waltham High School, aimed at providing support to students who have been involved in in-school suspensions and an Evaluation Team Leader, at a cost of $45,460, who would oversee support for 114 students with learning disabilities and Individualized Education Programs. 

At the administrative level, the district is proposing a new Chief Officer for Career and Technical Education, a district-wide role focused on promoting college and career readiness and providing students exposure to CTE programs all throughout their career at the Waltham public school. The salary for this position is budgeted at $180,000. Additionally, a new Pre-Kindergarten to grade 5 Math and Science Director will be appointed to oversee the implementation of the math and science curriculum across the elementary schools. Currently, there is only one person responsible for Pre-K to grade 12-level math and science curriculum. 

Mazza also noted that new additions, such as a Medical Assistant position at Kennedy School, cost $35,147. Additionally, an Athletic Scheduler/Athletic Trainer position will be added at Waltham High School to ensure the district complies with Massachusetts state law requiring an athletic trainer for high-impact sports. Currently, Waltham is out of compliance with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, and this position will help address that gap.

The budget also includes various operational and programmatic increases. The facilities budget will receive an additional $206,236 for cleaning supplies and facilities and equipment maintenance. Special education will see an increase of $808,711 to support the potential acquisition of new testing equipment and learning devices. The Teaching and Learning budget will grow by $136,191 to fund mentor stipends with transportation expected to increase by 10% to account for rising costs.

After Mazza’s presentation, members of the school committee discussed the potential for lost federal funding, as the national budget and policies are being challenged. Mazza shared that the team formulating the budget is considering and planning around the uncertainty so they are not left “guessing at the last minute” and “rushing to try to figure things out” as they come down from the national level.