Finance Sub-Committee accepts $75k church donation; projects $2.88M budget shortfall.
Gardner schools Finance Sub-Committee accepts $75,000 scholarship donation from First Congregational Church. Director of Finance and Operations Mark Hawke presented a budget update for the year ahead showing new funding of $1,469,020 against combined pressures totaling $4,350,000, including
School Subcommittees · Meeting of March 3, 2026
Gardner schools Finance Sub-Committee accepts $75,000 scholarship donation from First Congregational Church. Director of Finance and Operations Mark Hawke presented a budget update for the year ahead showing new funding of $1,469,020 against combined pressures totaling $4,350,000, including $900,000 in salary increases, $650,000 in rising out-of-district tuition costs, $700,000 in collaborative expenses, and $1.3 million in indirect costs. With last year's deficit of $800,000 factored in, the district projects an immediate shortfall of $2,880,980.
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Source: the School Subcommittees meeting of March 3, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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