By Carol Britton Meyer

For at least the fourth year in a row, there were no comments from community members during the annual public hearing on the proposed $18.9-million FY27 operating budget for the Hull Public Schools, held Monday night at the high school.

The overall school committee meeting was concluded in a little more than half an hour.

Next year’s budget request represents a 3% – or $551,713 – increase over FY26. The budget won unanimous school committee approval.

“The budget was presented a couple of times to the school committee and also to the advisory board,” Superintendent of Schools Michael Jette said. “The budget was well presented by [School Business Administrator] Diane Saniuk and well-received by the board.”

The sources of funding for the budget are Chapter 70 state education aid, 19.7%; revolving funds, including school meals, 4.6%; state and federal grant funding, 2.8%; the special education circuit-breaker program, 3.3%; and the town’s funding appropriation less Chapter 70, 69.6%.

The department’s overall expenses, by percentage, include total salaries, 78.34%; non-special education transportation, 4.31%; technology, 1.51%; instructional supplies, professional development, vocational tuition, 2%; non-salary special education, 5.99%; maintenance (non-salary), 2.54%; utilities, 3.79%; and all other (non-salary), 1.52%.

Click here for the department’s budget presentation.

Jette called the budget process “truly a partnership between the schools, school committee, and the town. We’re looking forward hopefully to a nice, smooth town meeting [May 4, when voters will be asked to approve the proposed FY27 municipal and school budgets], but we will be prepared to answer any questions from the public,” he said.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, Jette provided an update on the school department’s strategic planning process, which is under way.

HPS is partnering with the Teaching & Learning Alliance (TLA) – an education consulting organization – to help develop a strategic plan for the next five years. The most recent plan was for 2019-25.

Gary Maestas of TLA – who was a consultant for the recent school consolidation and will facilitate the strategic planning process – will be on site on May 6 to facilitate focus groups with staff, students, parents, and school committee members. Community member input is also key to the process, according to the superintendent.

“This meeting will provide feedback on the future of the Hull Public Schools,” Jette said.

School committee members Brendan Kilroe and Chair Kyle Conley will share one of the committee’s two seats on the strategic planning committee, and Liliana Hedrick the other.

There will also be a related community survey developed and administered by TLA, from April 27 through May 4.

For those who cannot attend a May 6 focus group, there will be other opportunities to listen, ask questions, and to share their thoughts.

“We want to let people know that their voices can also be heard through email or a conversation,” member Courtney Littlefield said.

“We want to hear from everybody,” Conley added.

The plan is expected to be completed by next September.

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