Boston School Committee Weighs $80 Million Budget Increase as COVID-19 Looms

Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6238 · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Boston School Committee holds FY21 budget hearing as governor declares COVID-19 state of emergency. The committee met Wednesday at the King K-8 School in Dorchester for the second in a series of budget hearings on a proposed $1.26 billion FY21 budget — a roughly $80 million increase over the prior year — sponsored by Superintendent Dr. Brenna Casillas.

Chief Financial Officer Nate Cooter told the committee that $36 million of the increase is new investment, with 90 percent of the full $80 million directed to schools or school services, adding 64 teachers, 94 paraprofessionals, and 126 school-based support positions. Chief Academic Officer Andrea Zayas unveiled a $2.5 million literacy curriculum adoption process targeting 34 transformation schools, using EdReports.org and the DESE CURATE tool as screening filters, with a selection expected by end of April. Casillas said the governor's same-day emergency declaration did not change BPS operations and that schools remained open per public health guidance, though she acknowledged closures were under active consideration.

The committee is required by statute to vote on the FY21 budget on March 25.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,221 words

Source: the Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip6238 meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.