Stoneham School Committee Schedules April 29 Budget Meeting Before Mandatory May 1 Vote

STONEHAM -- April 16, 2025, Stoneham School Committee votes on three administrative items, defers all budget cuts to April 29 special meeting. Facing a $4.5 million FY26 deficit after a failed $14.6 million override, the committee voted unanimously Wednesday to break the lease on the district offices, accept Chartwells as the new food service vendor following a regulated three-bid procurement process, and raise tuition for outside students entering the district's SHINE special education program for 18-to-22-year-olds from $30,000 to $40,000 for FY26, still below the SEEM member rate of $54,360. Chair Nicole Rendone said no proposed cut is acceptable, calling the situation "absolutely decimating," while Budget Director Leah Tzirides reported the district has approximately $1 million to $1.25 million in cash available after projecting five remaining payrolls through June 30. Members reached informal consensus to prioritize restoring the middle school nurse, ELL staff, health education, world language programs, and elementary music, and to reject any move to half-day kindergarten. A potential $2.4 million town contribution was under discussion at a tri-board session scheduled for April 17, with a Finance and Advisory Board follow-up set for April 28 and the line item budget vote required by May 1.