Cohasset Schools Restore Four Positions as Town Releases Overlay Funds

School Committee · Meeting of March 4, 2026

Cohasset schools recover four staff positions after town releases overlay funds, producing a near-5-percent FY27 budget increase. Superintendent Dr. Sarah Shannon announced at the March 4 School Committee meeting that the town's release of overlay funds, combined with early retirement savings, raised the district's FY26-to-FY27 increase to 4.99 percent — a gain of $1,180,905 — allowing the reinstatement of 1.0 FTE positions each in middle school ELA, math, special education, and high school world language.

A level-service deficit of $1,009,605 remains. Vice Chair Craig MacLellan named Town Manager Michelle Leary by name, urging residents to thank her for "working to identify solutions." Secretary Lance C. Dial warned the result is "a miracle" built on one-time levers and pledged strong support for a future override to fix structural underfunding.

The committee also unanimously approved a School the World service trip sending roughly 17 students to Guatemala in April at $3,950 per student.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of March 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.