Powers presents draft $107 million FY27 budget

School Committee · Meeting of January 21, 2026

RAYNHAM — Bridgewater-Raynham superintendent unveils a draft $107 million FY27 budget that restores just 10 of roughly 70 lost teaching positions. Superintendent Ryan Powers told a joint meeting of the Raynham Select Board, Raynham Finance Committee and School Committee that the plan, built around a roughly 4.5 percent spending increase, "is not a budget that's going to positively change outcomes for students." Chapter 70 state aid grew only 1.9 percent last year after 18 percent and 12 percent increases in prior years, forcing the district to draw $2.8 million from reserves and cut 24 positions. Per-pupil spending of $16,122 ranks 378th of 396 districts statewide.

Raynham Select Board Chair Pat Riley called the plan one that "stops the bleeding" without real progress, while Bridgewater Finance Committee Chair Paul Murphy said both towns are "more financially constricted" than in the past. The official preliminary budget is due February 4.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 834 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of January 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.