Executive Summary
The Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on April 16, 2026, to review the FY27 Boston Public Schools (BPS) budget, specifically focusing on operations, transportation, food services, safety, and human resources. Key discussions involved the $200 million transportation budget, the assessment of $105,000 in non-performance damages against the bus vendor Transdev, and the reduction of 57 central office FTE positions. The committee also addressed teacher licensure challenges, the transition to a central kitchen for food services, and public testimony regarding the potential centralization of health insurance costs to stabilize school funding.
Meeting Information
- Date: April 16, 2026
- Governing Body: City Council - Ways & Means Committee
- Meeting Type: Budget Hearing on Dockets #0733-0740 and #0741-0743
- Chair: Councilor Ben Weber
- Councilors Present: Erin Murphy, Edward Flynn, Liz Breadon, Ruthzee Louijeune, Brian Worrell, Sharon Durkan
- BPS Panelists:
- Dr. Sam DePina, Senior Deputy Superintendent of Operations
- Francis J. Canty, Chief of Human Resources
- Dan Rosengard, Executive Director of Transportation
- Izzy Marrero, Executive Director of Safety, Security and School Crisis Response
- Blair Dawkins, Deputy Chief Financial Officer
- David Bloom, Chief Financial Officer
Dockets and Official Actions
The hearing focused on the following matters sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu:
- Dockets #0733-0740: FY27 Budget for Boston Public Schools Operations.
- Dockets #0741-0743: Facilities, Transportation, and Technology Revolving Funds.
- Action: No votes were taken during this hearing; it was a review of the proposed budget and operational strategies.
Human Resources and Staffing
- Centrally Funded Positions: There are approximately 2,800 centrally funded positions, including custodians, bus monitors, and special education staff.
- Central Office Reductions: The budget includes a reduction of 57 FTE positions within the traditional central office roles (out of 700 total central office roles).
- Teacher Licensure:
- 700 teachers were identified as unlicensed this year.
- 200 educators have since obtained licensure.
- 132 provisional educators are currently being settled to ensure retention.
- Excess Pool: Displaced permanent teachers are being placed based on licensure and proximity to residence to provide stability before the summer break.
Transportation Operations
- Budget Overview: The transportation budget is approximately $200 million, an $11 million increase from the previous year.
- Route Efficiency: Routes have been reduced from 640 to 625, with a further 3% reduction projected for next year.
- Vendor Accountability: Dan Rosengard confirmed that BPS assessed $105,000 in non-performance damages against Transdev in March 2026 due to uncovered trips.
- Non-BPS Commitments:
- Charter and private school transportation: ~$30 million.
- McKinney-Vento (homeless/DCF) van transportation: ~$20 million.
- Specialized door-to-door transportation: Serves ~5,000 students, accounting for over half of the total transportation volume.
School Safety and Security
- Staffing: The district currently has 58 safety specialists with two vacancies.
- VIPERS Program: The Violence Intervention Prevention and Restorative Specialist (VIPERS) team consists of 11 members trained in mediation and conflict resolution.
- Police MOU: Izzy Marrero stated that BPS has signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Boston Police Department, though the BPD has not yet signed it. BPS continues to operate under the agreed-upon terms.
Food Services and Facilities
- Central Kitchen: The shift to a central kitchen model is projected to save $2.6 million in FY27 while maintaining fresh meal quality and local sourcing.
- Revolving Funds: The Facilities Revolving Fund is capped at $2 million, funded by facility rentals and parking fees. These funds cover day-to-day wear and tear rather than major capital HVAC projects.
- HVAC Upgrades: Repairs are currently underway at the Bates, Kenney, and Lee Academy schools using DESE grant funds.
Public Testimony
- Dr. Bianca Ortiz-White (Boston Teachers Union): Recommended moving BPS health insurance (approx. $197 million) into the city's central budget. "This is a straightforward administrative fix... BPS is the exception... more than half of BPS's total budget increase this year was consumed by health insurance alone."
- Ayush Bajpai (BTU): Opposed the cut of three district social worker positions, noting they support 37 schools and over 13,000 students.
- Johnny McInnis (BTU): Advocated for centralized healthcare and supplemental appropriations to prevent cuts to student-facing services.
- Clifton Braithwaite: Called for increased parent involvement, GED programs for parents, and better support for students in transition.