School Committee Votes to Seek $418,056 for FY27 Budget

School Committee · Meeting of July 29, 2026

Lunenburg School Committee raises state-aid ask to $418,056 for September town meeting. Committee member Mandy Gilman's citizen petition forced the extra special town meeting, set for September 3, after the Select Board did not act on an earlier funding request; the committee voted 4-0 to amend its warrant article from $350,000 to $418,056, the full amount lawmakers directed to Lunenburg schools above Governor Maura Healey's initial FY27 budget. Superintendent Dr.

Fortuna said the money would fund a certified occupational therapy assistant, needed after a new state law barred school "cool-down rooms." The committee also accepted a $175,000 earmark secured by Senator John Cronin's office, a new three-year custodian contract with 3.5-2.5-2.5 percent raises, and $10,716 in Lunenburg Education Accelerator Foundation grants. "Now that we do, I want all the money," Gilman said of the leverage created by the petition.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,842 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of July 29, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.