Arlington School Committee Unanimously Backs $14.8 Million Override for March Ballot

ARLINGTON — February 12, 2026 — Arlington School Committee unanimously endorses $14.8 million override and unveils two stark FY27 budget scenarios. The committee voted 5-0 Thursday to back the override question the Select Board approved the same evening for the March 28 ballot, which would bring the school operating budget to $107,775,899 — a flat 4 percent increase over FY26. If the override fails, the district is level-funded at $103,630,670, triggering cuts including nine elementary classroom teacher sections, reinstitution of athletic fees, reduced counseling positions, and elementary assistant principals shared across five schools. Superintendent Suzanne Homan cited out-of-district transportation costs running 80 to 85 percent above prior-year levels as the largest operational pressure, while two public commenters challenged the district's practice of grouping guidance, nursing, and homeless transportation under a special education label that they said inflates the reported 6.5 percent special education growth rate. The committee also approved a new field rental fee schedule adding two turf fields behind Arlington High School and raising the minimum custodial detail charge from $150 to $201.60. Chair Jeff Thielman noted that a failed 2003 override cost the district librarians it took 22 years to restore.