Andover Public Schools would cut 18.7 positions and increase athletic and fine arts fees for students for the 2025-26 school year under a budget that received preliminary approval from the school committee Thursday.
The job cuts and 2.5 percent fee increases are aimed at closing a $1.9 million deficit. The school committee is scheduled to take a final vote on its budget recommendation when it meets on March 6. Annual Town Meeting needs to give final approval for the budget when it meets beginning April 29.
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The district will decide which positions to cut in the coming months as employees resign or retire, and as enrollment numbers are refined. In a note to APS families Friday signed by all five members, the school committee said it would continue to review options and the final numbers would continue to be refined as the budget process continues.
“Similar to many districts across the Commonwealth, Andover continues to experience budget challenges, and the district faces a fiscal deficit for FY26,” the committee said. “The impact of rising costs of transportation, salaries, special education programs, and utilities are all factors that affect our budget.”
The proposed, $107.5 million budget also includes a 2.5 percent reduction of non-salary expenses. The budget is up 3.75 percent from the current school year’s spending plan.
Superintendent Magda Parvey is scheduled to discuss the budget as part of her “Let’s Talk!” initiative in a virtual meeting on Jan. 29. More information on the budget for the fiscal year beginning July is available on the APS budget page.