Somerset School Committee Approves $26.9 Million FY2027 Budget in 5-0 Vote

SOMERSET — April 14, 2026 — Somerset School Committee approves $26.9 million FY2027 budget in unanimous vote. The committee voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve a $26,889,305 spending plan for the coming school year, representing a $931,288 or 3.59 percent increase over FY2026 — down from an initial level-service proposal of more than $28 million presented in January. Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Schoonover credited roughly $1.25 million in reductions, including moving $239,153 in school security camera upgrades to a separate town meeting warrant article and cutting yellow bus routes from 15 to 12, for bringing the budget to its final figure. Two new one-to-one paraprofessional positions and a licensed practical nurse pushed the number slightly above the 3.49 percent figure from the prior meeting. Member Victor Machado voted yes but stated plainly that "it's disheartening knowing that we still are not really closing South School," renewing his call for elementary school consolidation. The committee also reorganized, naming Jennifer Ashley chair and John Ventura vice chair, and voted to appoint Machado as the lead on a new initiative to lobby MASC and state legislators to ease the public records request burden on district staff.