Acushnet School District to Cut Eight Positions Under Constraint Budget Plan

ACUSHNET — April 16, 2026 — Acushnet school and finance officials warn budget gap could force up to 21 staff cuts from a district of 132. Meeting jointly Wednesday night — though the Select Board attended in informational capacity only after a posting error — School Committee Chair Ron Boucher announced the district will move forward with a "constraint-driven" budget requesting approximately $1 million more than the current year while eliminating eight positions, with notifications to affected staff beginning Thursday. Finance Director Jamie Kelly told the group that the town's entire projected revenue increase of $960,932 is nearly wiped out by mandated cost increases alone, including a $410,102 jump in the Old Colony Regional Vocational assessment and $409,890 in benefits costs, leaving almost nothing for department budgets. Kelly warned that funding the school's $1 million increase would require roughly $2 million in cuts on the town side. Boucher called level funding "devastating," noting it would mean 35 total position cuts over three years. The district spends $16,082 per pupil, sixth-lowest in the state. The Finance Committee's public budget hearing is scheduled for April 29.