Middleton School Committee Votes 10 Percent Hike in Before-and-After-School Fees

MIDDLETON -- March 2, 2026, Middleton School Committee approves 10 percent before-and-after-school fee hike and $334,390 health insurance budget cut. The committee voted unanimously Monday to raise before- and after-school program fees 10 percent for fiscal year 2027, following data showing enrollment held steady or grew after the last rate increase in 2023-24. Director of Finance Steve Greenberg told the committee the district's health insurance premium came in at just 2.9 percent, against a budgeted 20 percent increase, producing a $334,390 budget reduction that the committee also approved unanimously. The windfall leaves the district $137,628 below the town's 2.5 percent budget guideline, and Finance Committee liaison Richard Gregorio told the panel the town faces an overall budget gap of roughly $500,000 to $600,000. The committee declined to direct any of the surplus toward the town's shortfall, instead tasking Superintendent Dr. Jackie Morrison and Greenberg to assess reinvestment needs in the three line items cut earlier this year, professional development, supplies, and facilities, and report back at a tentative March 23 working session ahead of the April 6 public budget hearing.