Andover School District faces $1.8M budget deficit amid rising special education costs

The Andover School Committee convened on December 12, 2024, to discuss critical budgetary issues and enrollment trends affecting the district. The meeting focused on the projected budget deficit, special education costs, and strategies for managing resources effectively.

The meeting began with a presentation highlighting a significant budget deficit of approximately $1.87 million. The discussion emphasized the impact of special education tuitions, which have seen a decrease in the operational services division's tuition rate from 14% to 3.67%. However, the committee acknowledged ongoing analysis of these tuitions to assess their broader effects on the budget.

Transportation costs for special education were also a key topic, with a noted contractual increase of 15.2%. This rise is attributed to a recent bidding process, while regular education transportation costs are projected to increase by a smaller margin of 3.56%. The committee discussed the importance of fine-tuning non-salary line items and exploring programmatic changes to address the budget shortfall.

The committee plans to evaluate staffing needs in relation to enrollment trends, which have shown a decline over the past decade. The superintendent noted that while enrollment is expected to stabilize, there are no significant changes anticipated for the upcoming year. The district is also considering adjustments to student fees and transportation to enhance revenue.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing the complexities of the budget document, which some members found overwhelming. The committee expressed a desire to simplify the budget presentation to improve transparency and accessibility for community members. Ideas included creating a one-page summary to convey essential information effectively.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to continue analyzing enrollment data and staffing requirements, as well as preparing for potential redistricting to balance student populations across schools. The committee will reconvene to deliberate on budget priorities and options for the upcoming fiscal year.