Dear Franklin Community,
I am honored to serve the Town of Franklin as Superintendent of Schools. Together with the leadership team, I am responsible for overseeing the daily operations of our district, which serves 4,589 students and employs over 1,200 dedicated professionals, including educators, support staff, and administrators. Our collective mission is to foster academic excellence, social and emotional well-being, and equitable opportunities for all students in safe, healthy, and welcoming environments.
The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Superintendent’s Recommended Budget, totaling $80,395,338, represents a 3.78% increase over FY25 and is structured to balance rising costs with strategic resource allocation. This year’s budget cycle is framed by our guiding principle: “Laying a Foundation for Success.” This tagline underscores the critical connection between a well-structured, sustainable budget and the long-term prosperity of our students and community.
Strategic Priorities and Fiscal Responsibility
Our approach to budget development is mission-driven and informed by Franklin’s Portrait of a Graduate, which defines the essential skills each student will develop throughout their PreK-12+ experience. We remain steadfast in our commitment to:
❖ Optimizing Resources – Allocating staffing and financial resources to maximize student impact.
❖ Supporting Reorganization – Ensuring a smooth transition for students, staff, and families following significant structural changes.
❖ Stability and Sustainability – Building a future-ready system that meets current and evolving needs.
In FY26, we continue to right-size our operations by aligning staffing and expenditures with student needs. This budget reflects savings from our district reorganization, which includes:
❖ The unification of Franklin Middle School, consolidating all grades 6-8 students into one building at Oak Street.
❖ The restructuring of elementary schools into two K-5 complexes at Washington Street and Lincoln Street.
❖ The expansion of the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) at Pond Street will increase early childhood capacity and generate additional revenue.
❖ These bold decisions allow us to preserve recommended class sizes, maintain a high-quality educational experience, and create efficiencies without increasing full-time staff. The reorganization achieves economies of scale, ensuring we maximize impact while maintaining financial sustainability.
Budget Drivers and Investments in Student Success
Several key financial drivers shape the FY26 budget:
❖ Staffing Adjustments – Reallocating existing staff to maintain class sizes and meet student needs without increasing overall FTEs.
❖ Student Support – Continued investment in behavioral, mental health, and academic interventions.
❖ Compliance & Costs – Rising expenses in transportation, special education, and health insurance.
While staffing costs account for most of the budget, we have strategically reallocated personnel to support student success. We are also maintaining Franklin’s commitment to academic and co-curricular opportunities, ensuring all students have access to:
❖ Rigorous and engaging curriculum
❖ Special education and intervention services
❖ Extracurricular activities, including clubs, arts, and athletics
❖ Essential student support, including counseling and wellness resources
Additionally, our focus on financial stewardship includes:
❖ Classroom-Level Analysis – Ensuring optimal teacher FTEs and class sizes.
❖ Historical Spending Review – Reducing or eliminating non-essential expenditures.
❖ Technology and Equipment Review – Prioritizing essential tools and minimizing inefficiencies.
❖ Special Education Forecasting – Accurately projecting out-of-district tuition and transportation needs.
❖ Transportation Evaluation – Optimizing bus routes to mitigate cost increases.
❖ Franklin in Context: Comparisons and Challenges
Despite fiscal constraints in recent years, Franklin Public Schools has made a series of bold decisions to maintain the success of a high-quality public education.
Looking Ahead
As Superintendent, I remain dedicated to working collaboratively with the Franklin School Committee, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, the Town Council, and municipal leaders to ensure fiscal stability and educational excellence. This budget reflects our shared vision for the future—one that prioritizes student success, supports educators, and strengthens our schools while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
We are grateful for your continued partnership and investment in Franklin’s students and for your unwavering commitment to our schools, families, and community.
Sincerely,
Lucas Giguere Janaina Melotti
Superintendent of Schools Interim School Business Administrator
The full School District "Budget Book" for FY 2026 can be found ->
Additional Budget documents can be found in their FY 2026 Budget page ->
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| Franklin Public Schools: FY 2026 Budget Book - “Laying a Foundation for Success” - Executive Summary |
