Milton School Committee restores DEIB director, cuts English teacher in $1.1M budget reduction

School Committee · Meeting of February 25, 2026

Milton School Committee approves $1.1 million in FY27 reductions while restoring four previously cut positions. Interim Superintendent John Phelan presented a revised budget at the February 25 meeting that walked back proposed cuts to the district's DEIB director, two BCBA positions, and a middle school special education teacher following community pushback, while keeping an English teacher position at the high school on the reduction list. The changes came in part from a decision to extend the district's Circuit Breaker reserve rebuilding plan from three years to four, freeing up funds after the utilization estimate rose from $2.6 million to roughly $3 million.

During public comment, former School Committee member Beverly Ross Denny argued the cuts were "optional" given the Select Board's history of providing emergency funds, while substitute school nurse Camille Sanabria Cooper warned that replacing the director of nursing with a stipended lead nurse "does not eliminate the workload." A public budget hearing is set for March 11, with a final budget vote expected by March 18. Committee Chair Amanda announced her resignation effective April 29, with her remaining term to appear on this year's town ballot.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of February 25, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.