Freetown-Lakeville Previews $53.6M FY27 Budget
Freetown-Lakeville schools preview a $53.6 million fiscal 2027 budget, with the general fund up 8.15 percent. Interim Superintendent Dr.
School Committee · Meeting of January 14, 2026
LAKEVILLE — Freetown-Lakeville schools preview a $53.6 million fiscal 2027 budget, with the general fund up 8.15 percent. Interim Superintendent Dr. Starkey and Finance Director Jack Higgins presented a level-service spending plan carrying a $3.7 million increase, driven by $1.2 million in contractual salary increases, a 12 percent health-insurance estimate and $545,000 in technology replacements.
Administrators flagged $596,300 in unmet needs, including a math specialist, two custodians, a speech-language pathologist and a full-time English Language Learner teacher. "This is why I spent 15 years in the classroom. This is amazing," said committee member Jen Blum after a finance primer built into the meeting.
The committee also unanimously approved Apponequet Regional High School's 2026-27 program of studies, which raises graduation credits from 120 to 121, and declared outdated ARHS uniforms and FLMS archery equipment as surplus.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 875 words
Source: the School Committee meeting of January 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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