Gardner school officials have earmarked $440,000 toward a Gardner High School locker room project as part of the fiscal 2027 school choice budget.

GARDNER -- The Gardner School Committee's Finance Subcommittee, meeting Aug. 26 and reported at the Sept. 14 School Committee meeting, reviewed the district's school choice account for fiscal 2027. The account is projected to bring in an estimated $650,000 in revenue against $800,000 in budgeted expenses, according to the subcommittee report.

HIGH SCHOOL -- To help cover that shortfall, the school choice spending plan includes $440,000 for the Gardner High School locker room project and $40,000 for field maintenance, the Finance Subcommittee reported. The plan also includes $340,000 for Mount Wachusett Community College early college and pathways programs and $100,000 for the Monty Tech MVP program. Superintendent Pellegrino noted the district's five-year school choice plan anticipates reducing salary expenses charged to the account by $80,000 per year going forward.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.