ERVING — The Erving School Committee approved its fiscal year 2026 budget proposal of $3.81 million for Erving Elementary School, along with $1.36 million for secondary education, on Tuesday.

The Erving Elementary School budget represents a $22,351 increase from the current year’s figures, while the secondary education budget, for Erving’s middle and high school students who are attending the Gill-Montague Regional School District or have an out-of-district placement, represents a $47,426 decrease due to shifting populations of Erving students at the secondary education level.

The instructional line item, at nearly $3.03 million, is the largest part of the FY26 budget and is seeing an increase of $142,497. One of the drivers of the increase comes from ongoing contract negotiations for Unit A and Unit B staff, covering teacher, paraprofessional and custodial salaries.

Erving School Union 28 Director of Business and Operations Caitlin Sheridan said in an interview Wednesday that this portion of the budget is still up in the air as negotiations continue, and the numbers built into the budget are estimated from overall state trends for salaries.

This portion of the budget for Erving Elementary was something Sheridan and Erving School Union 28 Superintendent Shannon White-Cleveland discussed at a Feb. 10 joint meeting with Erving’s Selectboard, Finance Committee and Capital Improvements Committee. Their presentation noted 88% of the instructional line item is for salaries.

Other changes in the instructional line item include a $25,000 increase to the “specialist teachers’ salaries regular ed.” operating budget line, accounting for the anticipated loss of Title I state aid to Erving Elementary as the school’s changing demographics are expected to not meet program standards next school year. Title I aid is awarded to schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families, according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Confirmation on whether Title I aid will come through for Erving will not be received until the summer.

The second largest increase in the Erving Elementary budget is in the plant operations and maintenance line item, which is increasing by $18,970 over FY25’s numbers to $332,716. This includes the projected salary increase for staff, as well as increasing costs for internet and software like PowerSchool and Frontline.

The largest decrease in the Erving Elementary budget comes from the “programs with other schools” line item that covers special education tuition to other schools. The request for FY26 is $10,001 compared to $150,952 in FY25.

As for Erving’s secondary education budget, the big shift is found in the “programs with other schools” line item. Sheridan explained on Feb. 10 that there is an increase in both regular and special education tuition for students amid increased placements, but a decrease in special education non-public school tuition.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.