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Nashoba reports state aid boost, enrollment shifts and several budget‑neutral staffing adjustments
Summary
District staff told the Nashoba committee on Sept. 10 that increased state aid and higher‑than‑expected freshman enrollment allowed several budget‑neutral staffing moves and left the district with a roughly $70,000 positive balance after those adjustments.
NASHOBA — At its Sept. 10 meeting the Nashoba Regional School Committee received a budget update from district staff that described a recent increase in state aid and several staffing adjustments made after the budget was adopted.
Assistant Superintendent Ross Mulcahren told the committee that state aid increased after the district’s budget vote, driven by components including Chapter 70, charter reimbursement and regional transportation reimbursement. "Yesterday afternoon we received guidance from DESE specific to regional school committees that the committee would need to take action in order to accept that additional Chapter 70 funding," Mulcahren said, and staff said they will return with a recommendation once they have digested the guidance and answered outstanding questions.
The nut graf: District staff described a mix of enrollment changes and internal FTE reassignments that allowed several budget‑neutral moves: returning one rotating middle‑school library assistant position, adding a fifth‑grade section at Center School because enrollment increased there, assigning an instructional assistant to freshman/sophomore study at the high school, and adding an additional team‑chair support position aligned to a reorganization of team chair duties. Staff said these moves were budget neutral because they reassigned existing FTEs rather than creating net new long‑term obligations.
District details reported to the committee included: - Enrollment: High‑school freshman enrollment arrived roughly 30 students higher than forecast, and the district will provide an official October 1 enrollment report next month for state funding purposes. - Staffing adjustments: Center School added a fifth‑grade teacher after late enrollment changes; one middle‑school library assistant position was restored as a rotating assistant serving three middle schools after reassigning kindergarten FTEs; an IA was reassigned to the freshman/sophomore study program; and staff added an additional team‑chair support position to cover reorganization gaps. - Fiscal result: Superintendent Downing reported that after the described moves the district’s net position showed a positive balance of about $70,000.
Committee questions focused on library access (members asked whether restored part‑time positions would preserve access to Massachusetts Library System resources), the fiscal impact of federal grant changes and the timing and procedure for accepting increased state aid. Mulcahren said that most federal allocations affecting FY26 had been settled in prior budgets and that any federal changes would more likely affect FY27 grant planning.
Formal action at the meeting included approval of the consent agenda, which the chair moved and Scott seconded; the consent agenda passed by voice/raise‑hand vote. Staff emphasized that the DESE guidance on accepting additional Chapter 70 aid requires a separate committee action before the district finalizes allocation decisions.
Ending: Staff said they will return with the official October 1 enrollment report and a recommendation on how to accept and allocate the recently announced Chapter 70 adjustments once legal and DESE clarifications are complete.
