Stoneham Schools Open Year With 28 Vacancies as Override Committee Plans Vote

STONEHAM — August 20, 2025 — Stoneham's Override Study Committee heard a nearly three-hour school department presentation warning of a structural budget crisis, 28 open staff positions, and teacher salaries at least 30 percent below market rate. Superintendent Dr. Kristen DeFrancisco, two months into her role, told the committee that candidates had declined job offers or withdrawn acceptance for positions paying $20,000 more per year at neighboring districts, and that out-of-district special education placements cost $4.4 million last year — nearly $2 million of which fell on the operating budget after grants and state circuit breaker reimbursements. School Committee Chair Jamie Wallace confirmed all bargaining units except custodians are working under expired contracts. "If I were to sit here and say to you this is a state funding problem, I would be irresponsible, because it's both," DeFrancisco said of the Chapter 70 aid formula, which provides roughly $30 million against an actual district cost of approximately $50 million. The committee set a target of September 2 to hold its first vote on whether to recommend an operating override to the Select Board, with a final report due September 30.