Financial alerts
Hadley Public Schools — Financial
What's happened recently in financial for Hadley Public Schools.
Hadley Public Schools has faced a financially difficult stretch. In September 2025, voters rejected a Proposition 2½ override meant to fund the FY26 school budget, and the School Committee was forced to rescind its original budget and adopt a reduced one of $7,799,633 — a $200,000 cut in the town's contribution. A separate Town Meeting article for school security upgrades also failed to pass.
There was one bright spot in January 2026: the School Committee accepted a $386,229 donation from Hopkins Academy alumna Janice (Sarsynski) Barger, class of 1975, to renovate the school's stage.
But by March 2026, the district faced a new $754,000 shortfall in the FY27 budget. The superintendent laid out three paths: a full override of $707,454 that would keep current programs, a reduced override of $399,676–$438,374 that would cut 2.6–3.1 staff positions and a bus route, or no override at all, which would cut 10.6 staff and reduce preschool, special education, and athletics. The committee voted 4-0 to back the full override.
That effort moved forward in May 2026, when the funding override passed Annual Town Meeting. It was headed to a townwide ballot vote on June 2, 2026, where it would need voter approval to take effect.
What happened
Voters reject funding override; schools lose $200,000
A Proposition 2½ override for the FY26 school budget failed at the September 2025 town vote, forcing the committee to adopt a reduced budget of $7,799,633 with a $200,000 cut in the town's contribution; a separate security-upgrade article also did not pass.
Alumna gives $386,229 for Hopkins Academy stage
The School Committee accepted a $386,229 donation from Hopkins Academy alumna Janice (Sarsynski) Barger, class of 1975, to renovate the school's stage.
$754,000 budget gap: schools weigh cuts or an override
Facing a $754,000 FY27 shortfall, the superintendent presented three budget scenarios and the committee voted 4-0 to back a full override of $707,454 that would keep current programs intact.
Funding override clears Town Meeting, heads to June 2 ballot
The FY27 school funding override passed Annual Town Meeting in May 2026 and still needed to pass a townwide ballot vote on June 2, 2026 to take effect.
Synthesized from 4 published, source-verified alerts about the budget for Hadley Public Schools.
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