Budget approved by School Committee, now requires Town Meeting approval 

MEDWAY — Superintendent Armand Pires is pleased to announce that the district's proposed Fiscal Year 2022 operating budget has been approved by the School Committee and will now be submitted to the Town of Medway. 

Superintendent Pires and Director of Finance and Operations Donald Aicardi presented the proposed FY22 operating budget to the community during a public hearing on Thursday, March 18. To see the budget hearing presentation slideshow, visit www.medwayschoolnews.org; to watch a recording of the budget hearing, visit https://livestream.com/medwaycableaccess/events/8009224/videos/218942838 

The full proposed budget request is $29,076,000. This amount represents a 2.4 percent increase over the current FY21 budget.

The district was able to balance estimated expenses with efficiencies and potential savings areas, while keeping in place teaching positions and services aligned with student needs, to propose a budget that was level with the Select Board's funding target for the schools.

In addition to the $29,076,000 operating budget request, the district will have available additional state and federal funding resources related to COVID-19 relief. These funding resources will provide flexibility toward anticipated but unknown student needs as a result of COVID-19. The funds will be put to use as needs are determined.  

"We appreciate the continued collaboration between the School Committee, Select Board and Finance Subcommittee to meet the needs of our schools and our students," Superintendent Pires said. "We've always worked hard to present a balanced budget that fulfills students' educational needs, and we are pleased to have been able to do so again following a year with so many challenges and unknowns. The separate resources we will have at our disposal as a result of COVID funding will also allow us to respond to the needs of students and resolve any educational gaps resulting from the pandemic."

The budget was approved by the Medway School Committee on March 18. Residents will vote to approve the Fiscal Year 2022 operating budget on Monday, May 10 during the annual Medway Town Meeting.