Gardner City Council Warned of $793,000 School Budget Gap, Possible Cuts to Sports

Select Board · Meeting of May 12, 2026

Gardner's school superintendent warned the City Council of a $793,669 funding shortfall heading into FY2027, even after cutting $1.5 million from the district budget. Superintendent Dr. Mark Pellegrino and School Business Manager Mark Haught presented a plan that eliminates 11 positions and closes the Gardner Academy alternative program — moving its 24 students into Gardner High School — but still leaves the district nearly $800,000 short, driven by a $1,081,000 spike in out-of-district special education tuitions and $766,884 in transportation cost increases.

Pellegrino told councillors that roughly $2 million in federal grants supporting 18.5 staff positions face potential cuts, and that if no additional money above the state-mandated minimum is approved, "next year this is going to start falling apart." Councilor Craig Cormier noted that the city has been required by state formula to increase its local school contribution by approximately $3.5 million over the last five years, cautioning that the solution "cannot always be more money." Pellegrino reminded the council it holds a rarely exercised option: a two-thirds vote under Chapter 44, Section 32 to override the mayor's school budget allocation.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of May 12, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.