School Committee receives financial overview, continues budget work
School Committee reviews state funding and local budget outlook for FY27. City Finance Director James LeBlanc presented the financial overview following the governor's January 28 budget release, noting Salem's required local contribution is 69.52 percent against state aid of 30.48 percent under the
School Committee · Meeting of February 9, 2026
SALEM — School Committee reviews state funding and local budget outlook for FY27. City Finance Director James LeBlanc presented the financial overview following the governor's January 28 budget release, noting Salem's required local contribution is 69.52 percent against state aid of 30.48 percent under the Chapter 70 formula. FY27 Chapter 70 aid will reach $32,898,737, a 5.99 percent increase over FY26 driven by a 6.32 percent rise in the foundation budget and enrollment growth of 1.33 percent.
Superintendent Stephen Zrike reported the district has improved its MCAS performance over the past two years and is no longer in the bottom 10 percent of Massachusetts districts, a ranking that triggers higher charter school enrollment caps and increased local costs.
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Source: the School Committee meeting of February 9, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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