Arlington School Committee schedules budget workshop as override vote looms

ARLINGTON -- February 26, 2026, Arlington School Committee hears broad public opposition to proposed cuts in arts, PE, and multilingual learner staff. More than a dozen educators and parents spoke at a February 26 budget hearing, warning that proposed reductions would cut elementary ACE enrichment blocks from 36 to 18 per year, drop visual arts FTEs from 7.0 to 6.0, music from 7.0 to 5.7, and PE from 12.0 to 11.0, and force specialist teachers to travel between buildings. Multilingual learner teachers at Arlington High School and elementary levels warned that cuts would push ML caseloads past 40 students and, in one scenario, make it mathematically impossible to meet state DESE instructional minimums. Superintendent Kathleen Holman said retaining all current staff would cost $4,079,000 more than the FY26 base, $2.2 million in salary increases and $1.9 million in operational costs, and said she would "go uncover some more rocks" before the March 4 budget workshop. The committee also unanimously approved Warrant Article 26195 for $1,372,387.85, received a first read of eight policy revisions, and announced three finalists for the Pierce Elementary principal search.