Gov. Maura Healey’s supplemental budget of $100 million could help offset preschool cuts in Westfield.
Reminder Publishing file photo
WESTFIELD — Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said the supplemental budget of $100 million for education filed by Gov. Maura Healey on July 15 would bring in more than $500,000 to Westfield Public Schools if it passes.
According to Czaporowski, the money would help defray a $300,000 cut to Westfield’s preschool funding in the fiscal year 2027 budget. However, the Legislature is now in recess until January 2027.
Funding for the supplemental budget, filed one week after Healey signed the fiscal year 2027 Massachusetts state budget on July 9, would come from projected unbudgeted Fair Share surtax collections in FY27 and would supplement the levels of local aid included in the FY27 budget recently signed by Healey. The one-time investment is intended to help retain teachers, paraprofessionals, mental health counselors and other school staff while preserving educational programming in communities facing fiscal challenges.
Czaporowski said that, for Westfield, the supplemental budget would mean an additional $112 per student through Chapter 70. He said the additional funding would help defray the cut of more than $300,000 in the July 9 budget to Westfield’s $1 million Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative grant, which pays for Westfield’s universal preschool program.
“Every district that has CPPI saw their grant cut by the same percentages. We have already hired our staff and accepted students. We can’t reduce staff; contracts were signed June 15,” Czaporowski said, adding that he questioned the motives of the House and Senate for cutting the preschool grant.
“It’s supposed to be a top initiative in the state. If we were to get this additional funding from the supplemental budget, a chunk of that will be going to support our preschool programming,” he said, adding that if the supplemental budget does not pass, reductions will have to be made elsewhere.
“If the money passes, we’ll be up $200,000. Right now, we’re operating from a deficit because of that grant. As a district, we recognize the importance of preschool. Kids participating in preschool have a better shot of success later on,” Czaporowski said.
The supplemental budget would distribute the $100 million according to a formula based on FY27 enrollment, ensuring that every one of Massachusetts’ 319 operating school districts receives additional funding. That amounts to approximately $112 per student on top of the $160 million in minimum aid included in the FY27 budget as part of the final year of the Student Opportunity Act.
“There’s money for rural school aid; some other investments they’re promoting are to help communities with large English learner populations, and money for special education Circuit Breaker, which reimburses a percentage of out-of-district transportation and medical costs. Any increase in reimbursement is helpful to any district, including us,” Czaporowski said. “We’re appreciative of the supplemental budget. A lot of districts are struggling.”
Czaporowski said he received a letter from the governor’s office asking the district to reach out to local legislators to support the supplemental budget. “As soon as I got the letter, I called John Velis and Kelly Pease,” he said.
However, there is no indication that it will be voted on any time soon as recess begins on Aug. 1.
“There is not enough time to take that bill up before the 31st. It would have to pass the House and Senate with amendments and reach a conference committee before Aug. 1. It’s not going to happen,” Pease said earlier in the week. Pease serves on both the House Ways & Means and Joint Committee on Ways & Means.
Gabriel Adams-Keane, chief of staff for state Sen. John Velis, said the FY27 supplemental budget focused on education funding was filed by the governor earlier this month and is currently before the House Committee on Ways and Means. As is typical with funding bills, the House will consider this legislation before it goes to the Senate.
Adams-Keane also referred to recent press statements by House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, who expressed concern about increasing Chapter 70 funds further so soon after the FY27 budget was filed and before Fair Share revenue is collected.
Asked when the supplemental funding might come for a vote, Adams-Keane said that, under the Legislature’s Joint Rules, formal sessions are only possible after July 31 for bills that are in conference committee by that date. Other bills can advance in informal sessions with unanimous consent, and emergency formal sessions are possible in certain circumstances.
The new legislative session begins in January, with formal sessions resuming.
