From Richard “Rick “Trapilo, Fairhaven Select Board member and liaison to the Budget Working Group
Dear Superintendent Kohler and School Committee Chair,
In preparation for our upcoming joint meeting, I am respectfully requesting the following information from the Fairhaven School Department. The purpose of this request is to provide the Select Board and me with an understanding of the School Department’s financial position.
The Town of Fairhaven is projected to face significant revenue shortfalls over the next three to five years. As an elected official, my responsibility is to the taxpayers who fund both municipal and educational services. Addressing these challenges will require all departments to work together to identify efficiencies, manage expenditures, while protecting essential services.
Specifically, I respectfully request the following:
1. Student Enrollment
• Total student enrollment for each of the past three school years, including September 2026.
• If available, enrollment by grade for each year.
2. School Department Staffing
• Total School Department employees for each of the past three years, including September 2026.
• If available, staffing by department, function, or employee classification.
3. Open Enrollment/School Choice
• Current enrollment through the Open Enrollment/School Choice program.
• Revenue received per student compared with the estimated cost per student.
• Clarification as to whether this revenue remains within the School Department budget or is returned, in whole or in part, to the Town’s General Fund.
• The School Department’s financial rationale and objectives for maintaining or potentially expanding participation.
4. Net School Spending and Declining Enrollment
• As referenced in my July 13, 2026, email, has the School Department submitted, or does it intend to submit, a request to reduce its required Net School Spending obligation based on declining enrollment?
• Given the October 1, 2026, deadline, please provide an update on the status of this matter.
5. SMEC and Reciprocal Student Cost-Sharing Agreements
• A copy of the current SMEC lease agreement.
• A copy of the current reciprocal Fairhaven/SMEC student cost-sharing agreement.
6. Proactive Three-Year Budget Reduction Analysis
• An analysis of how the School Department could proactively reduce its operating budget by 3% in each of the next three fiscal years.
• If possible, please identify potential savings through efficiencies, consolidation, staffing adjustments, or other operational changes while minimizing impacts on educational programs and services.
This request is not intended to be adversarial or critical of the School Department. It is about transparency, fiscal responsibility, and our shared obligation to the taxpayers of Fairhaven. The Town is facing significant financial challenges, and we cannot successfully address them by viewing municipal government and the School Department as separate entities.
I have included key municipal department leadership so they are aware of the information being requested. I will be making similar requests of major municipal departments to develop a comprehensive understanding of the Town’s financial position. This information can then be shared with the Select Board, School Committee, Finance Committee, and ultimately the taxpayers of Fairhaven.
Thank you in advance for providing this information prior to our joint meeting. I look forward to a productive, respectful, and collaborative discussion focused on the long-term financial health of both the Town and School Department.
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Click here to download the 9/17/26 issue: 09-17-26 Remember911
9-11 Audio file courtesy of Elizabeth Cardoso-Medeiros
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