Building Our School Budget

By Kevin D. Case, Superintendent of Schools

Each year, Norfolk trusts us with two of its most valuable resources: its children and its tax dollars. Developing the annual school budget is one of the most important responsibilities we have as a school district. I would like to let you know how the budget is developed and how we ensure it reflects our shared priorities.

The budget process begins not with numbers, but with our mission to provide ALL students with a high-quality education in a safe, healthy, supportive environment. At Botelle School, we commit ourselves to three goals: promoting high student achievement; exhibiting focused educational leadership; and making sound financial choices. We aim to provide a rigorous and relevant curriculum while holding and acting upon high expectations for ALL students.

The first step is to analyze student enrollment. Our current 2025-2026 enrollment is 55 students while our projection for the 2026-2027 school year is 58 students. We also review student achievement data and analyze the types of support our students will need to be successful. We are currently projecting that 11 of our students or 19 percent of our population will need special education and related services. The district is required by law to meet the individual needs of all students.

The second step is to analyze staffing needs to ensure we are working as efficiently as possible while continuing to provide the 21st-cen-tury learning opportunities our students deserve. Over the years the number of staff members has decreased due to our combination of grade levels. We also rely on part-time teachers for music, art, physical education, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). Our paraprofessional staff supports those students who require more individualized learning. Due to our steady enrollment numbers, we are projecting that staffing levels will remain the same with only the addition of a part-time paraprofessional.

We are required to meet the contractual obligations associated with staffing and transportation. We also deeply analyze utility usage to budget accurately. Another component of the budget is to maintain and conduct the annual inspections of our school building. For example, there are several state mandates associated with indoor air quality and testing for radon and asbestos. These need to be funded. Every line item in the budget is analyzed to determine where reductions can be made as student needs and the need for curriculum materials and resources change from year to year. As school superintendent, I presented a proposed 2026-2027 budget to the Board of Education in February. The board adopted the budget and presented it to the Board of Finance on March 10. There will be a public hearing and then a vote at the annual town meeting in May.

Developing a school budget requires balancing aspirations with fiscal responsibility. Rising costs, unfunded legislative mandates and economic factors influence our decision-making. Our goal is to maintain and improve the quality of education at Botelle School while being mindful of the fiscal impact on Norfolk residents