Fiscal 2028 school budgets go on Somerset, Acushnet and Marion agendas Nov. 10 and 12

SOUTH COAST Updated 10:03 a.m. Nov. 9, 2026.

Somerset's School Committee and budget subcommittees in Acushnet and Marion have put the 2027-28 school budget, fiscal 2028, on their agendas for Tuesday, Nov. 10, and Thursday, Nov. 12.

None of the three posted agendas lists a dollar figure or a budget vote. Acushnet and Marion list the budget for discussion and Somerset lists an update, though Somerset's notice says any item may require action. Fiscal 2028 runs from July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2028.

The same week, the Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School Committee will hear communications on a fiscal 2027 budget summary and a half-day schedule decision, and Seekonk's School Committee meets with its school building committee an hour before town meeting. Fall River's School Committee has two subcommittee sessions Nov. 10 and Nov. 12 and a full meeting Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Somerset: a budget update now, a workshop Dec. 9

The Somerset School Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Somerset Middle School auditorium, 1141 Brayton Ave. Its agenda, amended Nov. 5, replaced a listed update on the 2025-26 budget with an "Update on 2027-2028 Budget" and also lists the October financial statement and an update on the budget workshop.

That workshop is set for the committee's next regular meeting, 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the middle school, which the notice says "will include a budget workshop." The agenda also keeps an update from the Somerset Middle School Building Committee. The notice states that "every agenda item may require action."

Superintendent of Schools Jeffrey Schoonover and Chief Financial Officer Kayla Marsden are listed for the administration. The agenda also carries a report on the Somerset Berkley Regional School Committee, which meets Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Acushnet: two budget years on one agenda

The Acushnet School Committee's Budget Subcommittee meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the superintendent's conference room at Ford Middle School, 708 Middle Road. The agenda lists a discussion of the fiscal 2027 budget, the year now under way, and a separate discussion of the fiscal 2028 budget. The subcommittee will also take up minutes from its May 26 meeting. Ronald Houde chairs the School Committee, and Melissa Cordeira is vice chair.

Marion: an online session on fiscal 2028

Marion's School Committee budget subcommittee meets at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, on Google Meet. The single item reads: "That the School Committee and administration discuss the FY2028 budget." The notice says supporting documents are posted on the School Committee page at oldrochester.org/district/sc. Residents can join by phone at 508-375-7886 with PIN 970 919 104.

Superintendent of Schools Michael S. Nelson said this week's session is the subcommittee's first of the fiscal year and that the school department has no preliminary figures yet. He said the department will submit its draft fiscal 2028 budget to the town by late November, and the School Committee will formally approve the budget in late winter or early spring for the warrant at Marion's annual town meeting.

"As the Marion school department plans for the fiscal year 2028 budget we anticipate salary obligations, special education costs for out of district placements and transportation, and rising facility costs to be fiscal pressure points during budget development," Nelson said.

Voc-Tech: a budget summary and a schedule communication

The Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech School Committee, which serves Dartmouth, Fairhaven and New Bedford, meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the Student Forum at the school, 1121 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, with a live stream on the school's YouTube channel. Its communications list includes a "FY 2027 Budget Summary" and "Stakeholder Feedback and Half-Day Schedule Decision."

The committee will also hear an MCAS accountability report and plans to go into executive session to discuss collective bargaining strategy with a union the agenda lists as the GNBEU. Public comments go to the recording secretary at maria.fredette@gnbvt.edu by 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9. The notice also lists a school open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22.

Seekonk and Fall River

Seekonk's School Committee holds a joint session with its MSBA School Building Committee at 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in the Seekonk High School library and media center, 261 Arcade Ave., to review materials for town meeting, with votes possible. The agenda says the session will not be video recorded because town meeting starts at 6 p.m. Our town meeting preview covers the warrant. The committee's next regular sessions are 6 p.m. Nov. 16, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14.

In Fall River, the School Committee's Special Education, Alternative Education and Early Childhood Subcommittee meets Tuesday, Nov. 10, in the School Committee conference room at the Administration Building, 417 Rock St., and its Instructional Subcommittee meets Thursday, Nov. 12. The full committee holds its regular meeting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the Durfee High School auditorium, 460 Elsbree St. The full committee last met in regular session Oct. 7.

How to weigh in

Somerset Public Schools can be reached at 508-324-3100. Acushnet's School Committee office is at 508-998-0260. Marion's superintendent's office is at 508-758-2772, ext. 1956. Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech's main office is at 508-998-3321.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.