GRAFTON – On Jan. 6, Grafton Superintendent James Cummings continued discussing the fiscal 2027 school budget. Though it’s only January – and discussions are still preliminary at best – town leaders are sounding the alarm that the upcoming budget cycle might be “catastrophic” for Grafton Public Schools.
Grafton is anticipating a $1.4 million budget shortfall; about $1 million to $1.2 million of that would affect the schools. A level-service budget – one that keeps the district’s quality of education consistent – would run the town about $50.5 million.
To make up the budget delta, Cummings alluded to potential cuts involving 18 full-time “instructional staff,” broadly defined as teachers and curriculum coordinators. Cummings was sure to “keep [the cuts] vague enough not to cause panic, but defined enough to cause rightful concern.”…