Weare School Board reviews special-education expendable trust as costs rise

At its Oct. 21 meeting, the Weare School District School Board held a public hearing on the district—xpendable trust established for special-education costs after staff reported increased special-education needs for the year.

Chris, a district staff member, told the board that the district is projecting "approximately a $170,000 in special education needs." He said the expendable trust exists to cover those costs if necessary and reported the trust—alance as of June 30 was about $102,750.80. "The conversation tonight is not to spend the dollars as much as it is an understanding that the fund is there to cover this need that we are currently anticipating," he said.

Board members and members of the public asked how the trust would be used and how it could be replenished. Chris said the district plans to look to other budget lines before accessing the trust and described two voter-approved options to add money to expendable trusts: a warrant article to raise and appropriate funds or a warrant that directs existing fund balance into a capital reserve or expendable trust. "Special expendable trusts and capital reserves are funded through the warrant, valid warrant articles following the budget warrant," he said.

Resident Kate Blum referenced prior year decisions not to dip into the trust, saying the district had deferred an encumbered retirement payout but ultimately funded it when year-end balances were finalized. Several board members and the administration emphasized that tapping the expendable trust would be a last option and that any replenishment would require voter approval.

Board members sought current projections for the district—und balance and for the potential surplus; Chris said that, because the district has a budget freeze in effect, he was "not expecting that we will have budget left" at this point but that a clearer picture would emerge with the monthly budget-versus-revenue reports this winter.

The board did not vote on any transfer or expenditure from the trust at the meeting. Trustees said they will bring a specific appropriation motion to the board if and when staff determine a dollar amount to request from the trust and that any such request would be presented for a formal vote and then to the town trustees as required.

The public hearing also included questions about whether the projected cost increase was driven by newly identified students or by move-ins; Chris said both contribute and that the administration did not have sufficient data at the meeting to determine the primary driver. The administration said it is collecting data and coordinating with the state education office on recommended reserve levels for special-education costs.

Board members asked staff to continue monthly budget reporting to the board and to return with any formal requests for trust access when a dollar amount is known.