Boston Council Grills BPS Officials Over Staff Cuts, $197 Million Transportation Budget

BOSTON — April 16, 2026 — Boston City Council's Ways and Means Committee spent more than two hours Thursday pressing Boston Public Schools officials on proposed staff cuts and a ballooning $197 million transportation budget in the district's FY27 spending plan. BPS Deputy CFO Blair Dawkins and Senior Deputy Superintendent Dr. Sam DiPina confirmed 56 full-time equivalent position reductions across 2,800 centrally funded roles, including bus monitors, custodians, and central office staff. Councilor Flynn repeatedly challenged the elimination of three district social workers, calling it "unacceptable" for a district already struggling with student mental health needs; DiPina declined to commit to restoring the positions. The Boston Teachers Union sent three representatives to urge the council to move BPS's $197 million health insurance appropriation into the city's central budget, noting it rose 33 percent — $49.4 million — in a single year and consumed more than half of the district's total budget increase. Transportation vendor Transdev was assessed $105,000 in non-performance damages in March for uncovered bus trips, subtracted from its $1.6 million monthly management fee, with Executive Director Dan Rosengard reporting on-time performance is now the highest in Boston history.