Gardner School Committee Unanimously Approves $38.9 Million FY27 Budget With Built-In Shortfall

GARDNER — May 11, 2026 — Gardner School Committee unanimously approves $38.9 million FY27 school budget with a $793,669 revenue shortfall. The 7-0 vote followed a public hearing at which no members of the public came forward with questions or comments. Superintendent Dr. Mark Pellegrino described nearly $1.5 million in cuts, including the closure of Gardner Academy and the elimination of 18 positions, driven by a 62 percent rise in health insurance costs since 2024 and a 220 percent surge in transportation costs over the same period. Director of Finance and Operations Mark Hawke noted the district is $2.6 million below its state-calculated funding target. "We're doing great work with very little, but we can't keep going on like this," Pellegrino said. The committee also voted to raise Pre-K tuition — full-day from $2,600 to $2,840 annually, half-day from $1,300 to $1,480 — and adopted 10 updated or new district policies. The budget goes to the City Council, which received a formal presentation on May 12, with a full vote expected in June.