Douglas Schools Face $762,000 Budget Deficit With More Layoffs Possible

DOUGLAS — March 24, 2026 — Douglas schools face a $762,000 deficit heading into May town meeting, with staff layoffs already underway. Superintendent Paul Vieira and Business and Operations Manager Diana Landry told the Finance Committee on March 24 that 19.5 positions have already been identified for elimination — including 12 of 117 teachers — and that closing the remaining gap could require cutting an additional 11.4 positions, potentially reducing teaching staff by 21 percent in a single year. Special education costs have grown 50 percent since FY22, with out-of-district placements doubling to 20 students and the FY27 special education budget set at $3.5 million against a FY25 actual of $2.8 million. Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical School Superintendent Anthony Steele separately delivered an 11.81 percent assessment increase for Douglas — $245,511 — despite holding the overall BVT budget to 2.5 percent growth, driven by seven additional Douglas students and a minimum contribution calculation under the Chapter 70 formula. Steele credited a new three-year teachers contract with zero base raises and a shortened calendar for $323,000 in FY27 savings and roughly $2.1 million over the contract term. Town Administrator Matt Wojcik said the town-side budget is approximately $36,000 in the black but flagged a roughly $220,000 unbudgeted backhoe replacement likely heading to the special town meeting warrant; the Finance Committee votes on warrant article recommendations April 14.