Gloucester School Committee Unanimously Approves $54.2 Million FY26 School Budget

GLOUCESTER -- June 24, 2025, Gloucester School Committee approves $54.2 million FY26 budget and gives superintendent high marks. The committee voted unanimously Tuesday on a $54,228,897 operating budget, with Chief Financial Officer Gary Frisch citing salary increases of just over $1.5 million, benefits up $367,000, and roughly $616,000 in expenses moved from grants to the operating fund as the primary drivers. The board also completed Superintendent Ben Lummis's annual evaluation, with four of seven members rating him exemplary and three proficient overall; Chair Melissa Prince called the review "stellar," while members noted continued challenges in student achievement and attendance. Public commenter Joanne Catelli, a West Parish special education coordinator for 13 years, told the board she was blindsided by a role restructuring driven by the new special education director and called the changes "rash decisions." The Gloucester Education Foundation announced plans to raise $1 million to transform the O'Malley Middle School courtyard, dubbed "the prison yard" by students, into an outdoor learning hub, with a $250,000 fundraising goal set for the foundation's November 6 gala. Athletic participation fees were increased for the first time in roughly a decade, with high school fees up $10 and O'Malley fees up $50, projected to generate $14,000 in additional athletic revolving account revenue.