Schools ask the town for 4% more, with no layoffs and six new jobs

What happened

The School Committee adopted its 2026-2027 budget request on February 26, 2026. The budget analyst presented a 5.9% overall increase built on a request to the town for about 4% more than the year before, with no layoffs and six new positions. The committee amended the motion so that money set aside for a second school resource officer would be recorded as general security spending instead.

Why it matters to families

This is the number that decides how many teachers and support staff Barrington can afford next year, and it is the number the town then argues over.

The evidence

The February 5, 2026 approved minutes record the budget analyst presenting a 2026-2027 budget with a 5.9% overall increase, a 3.89% increase in town appropriation, no layoffs and six new positions. The February 26, 2026 approved minutes record the proposal as requesting a 4% increase from the town including funding for an additional school resource officer at the middle school, and a 3-0 vote to approve the budget with the amendment that all funds designated to the resource officer be classified as general security. No budget document was filed with either set of minutes.

The source