Reading, MA — During the School Committee liaison reports this past Thursday, School Committee member Chuck Robinson announced that he would not seek reelection this spring. Robinson shared that he appreciates all of the members and staff he’s worked with over the years, but he said, “It’s time to let some other people step up.”
Robinson has served on the School Committee for eighteen years, several as chair, including during the COVID-19 shutdown. Robinson also served for nine years on the Finance Committee prior to his election to the School Committee. School Committee chair Thomas Wise thanked Robinson for his years of service, especially thanking him for his mentorship when he first joined the committee. Member Erin Gaffin had similar comments for Robinson. Superintendent of Schools Thomas Milaschewski noted Robinson’s ability to “find middle ground” and his skills in working towards consensus on “sticky” issues. Robinson will continue to serve until the April Town election.
Also, during the liaison reports, School Committee member and Killam School Building Committee (KSBC) chair Carla Nazzaro shared that the proposed new Killam Elementary School will have a slightly over $130 million budget. This total includes the $2.2 million already appropriated by the Town Meeting for design work.
Nazzaro also shared that the estimate for Massachusetts School Building Administration reimbursement will be in the $42 million range, which is higher than previous estimates. Nazzaro explained that the total bill for taxpayers should be around $88 million. The KSBC will vote on the budget at its February 3 meeting.
The meeting began with a public hearing regarding the Fiscal Year 2026 budget. Only one member of the public, Geoffrey Coram, asked any questions or had any comments about the budget. Coram first praised Milaschewski and his team for presenting a level service budget in challenging budget times and then inquired about the difference in budget items for advertising and Human Resources. Milaschewski indicated that the budget line item for advertising helps the district recruit staff and students in more diverse places than traditional venues. The School Committee will vote on the FY 2026 budget at its January 30 meeting.
The committee also discussed clarifying laws regarding how it can and cannot advocate for a potential Killam Elementary School ballot question. The School Committee adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
