Pittsfield Public Schools
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FY27 Draft Operating and Line Item Budget
March 25, 2026
Bonnie Howland, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance
FY27 Draft Operating and Line Item Budget
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Revenue Recap
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$ 68,855,061 Chapter 70
68,855,061 Chapter 70
$18,000,000 City of Pittsfield
000 City of Pittsfield
$ 86,855,061 Total Appropriation
86,855,061 Total Appropriation
Increase over FY26 Appropriation: $404,500
Level-service budget: Amount to be reduced to meet FY27
anticipated appropriation: $4,391,651
Closing the gap
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$ 91,246,713 $ 86,855,061 | FY27 Deficit Chapter 70 | $ 86,855,061 $ 345,000 $ 87,200,061 | Chapter 70/City Appropriation Tuition Revenue FY27 Proposed Budget |
$ 2,727,963 | Administration | $ 2,606,858 | Administration (Central Office, HR, Districtwide Technology) |
$ 65,679,421 | Instructional | $ 62,696,626 | Instructional (Personnel, Supplies, Programs) |
$ 7,629,643 | Other School Services | $ 7,529,549 | Other School Services (Nurses, Bus Operations, Athletics) |
$ 7,690,215 | Operations & Maintenance | $ 7,401,242 | Operations & Maintenance (Technology, Custodial, Utilities) |
$ 589,561 | Fixed Costs | $ 594,561 | Fixed Costs (Indemnity Insurance, Employee Separation Costs) |
$ 72,858 | Adult Learning | $ 72,858 | Adult Learning (Adult Education) |
$ 235,787 | Acquisition of Fixed Assets | $ 235,787 | Acquisition of Fixed Assets (Lease Space: Eagle Academy) |
$ 6,621,264 | Tuition Payments | $ 6,062,580 | Tuition Payments (SPED OOD, Vocational, Use Circuit Breaker) |
($ 4,391,651) | DEFICIT | | |
Level-Services Budget
BUDGET DRIVERS - Key factors that significantly influence how much money is spent or how much money is needed
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Estimated Contractual Obligations: $2.51M
Special Education Contracted Services: $450K (increase of $375K)
Special Education Out of District Tuition: Estimated at $9.2M
Curriculum: $240K (increase of $90K)
Transportation Costs: $2.1M
Technology Renewals: $657K (increase of $38K)
Utility cost increases: $2.97M (increase of $126K)
Key Budget Risks and Budget Decisions
Potential Volatility
Budget Impact
Workbook Review - Leveling Process
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All grades were reviewed and staffing was leveled based on student to teacher ratios:
Grade K-2 18:1 Grade 3-5 20:1 Middle 22:1 High 24:1
We conducted an internal review of caseloads, student enrollment, and recommended staffing ratios to inform school-level allocations. This analysis led to targeted discussions with school leaders to assess where resource and staffing needs may differ from formula-driven projections, ensuring allocations more accurately reflect each school’s unique circumstances.
Workbook Staffing Review - Tier I Elementary
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Capeless Elementary - Reduce 2 Teachers; reduce 1 Special Education Teacher; reduce 2 Paraprofessionals
Egremont Elementary - Reduce 1 Assistant Principal Teaching & Learning; reduce 1 Teacher; reduce 2 Paraprofessionals; increase .5 to EL services
Williams Elementary - Reduce 1 Teacher; reduce 3 Paraprofessionals; reduce .25 to EL services
*The per pupil rate of $6,500 was adequate to fund the 3 Tier I schools based on the staff adjustments made
Workbook Staffing Review - Tier II Elementary
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Allendale Elementary - Shift Dean to Assistant Principal; reduce 1 Teacher; reduce 2 Paraprofessionals; reduce School Adjustment Counselor by .5; reduce EL services by .5
Stearns Elementary - Reduce 1 Teacher of Deportment; reduce 4 Paraprofessionals; reduce EL services by .5; add 1 Coach
*The per pupil rate of $6,500 was not adequate to fund the 2 Tier II schools based on the staff adjustments made - Increased per pupil rate to $8,125 - Stearns Elementary needed additional support due
to inclusion model
Workbook Staffing Review - Tier III Elementary
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Conte Community - Shift Dean to Assistant Principal; add 3 Teachers; add Board Certified Behavior Analyst of .5 (shared with Morningside); increase School Adjustment Counselor by .5
Crosby Elementary - Reduction of Teacher of Deportment to 1; reduction of .25 to EL services
Morningside Community - Shift Dean to Assistant Principal; reduce 1 Paraprofessional; add 3 Teachers; add Board Certified Behavior Analyst of .5 (shared with Conte); add Family Engagement Attendance Coordinator; increase School Adjustment Counselor by 1; add 1 Coach
Workbook Staffing Review - Middle Schools
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Herberg Middle - add Assistant Principal Teaching & Learning; add Family Engagement Attendance Coordinator; reduce Guidance Counselor; add .5 Instructional Accountability Coordinator; add 4 Teachers (1 ELA; 1 Math; 1 Science; 1 Social Studies)
Reid Middle - add 1 Guidance Counselor; add 5 content teachers; reduce 1 Teacher of Deportment; reduce 1 Paraprofessional (grant funded); increase Music/Band Teacher 1.7 to 2.25; Phys Ed Teacher increase from 2 to 3
*Further discussions to take place regarding Middle School restructure needs
Workbook Staffing Review - High Schools
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Pittsfield High - reduce Assistant Principal Teaching & Learning; reduce 7 Teachers; add 1 Teacher of Deportment; repurpose 1 Guidance Counselor to support other secondary duties across the district
Taconic High - shift Dean to Assistant Principal; reduce 1 Teacher of Deportment; add 1 Family Engagement Attendance Coordinator; reduce 4 General Education Teachers; add 1 Vocational Teacher; reduce .25 EL services
Workbook Review with Principals - Academies
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Crosby Academy - shift Dean to Assistant Principal; add 1 Teacher of Deportment
Eagle Academy - reduce School Adjustment Counselor from 2 to 1; .25 Guidance Counselor services
*Academies did not fit the weighted student formula due to enrollment numbers and
the need for specialized services
Community/Secondary Schools Strategic Initiatives
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LINE ITEM BUDGET DISCUSSION